Heavyweight:-Sergey Kuzmin (14-0): WBA #7 / IBF #11 / WBC #15Kuzmin won the WBA Intercontinental title last year, after he defeated David Price (23-6), and defended it for the first time against LaRon Mitchell (16-2). He fights Joey Dawejko (19-6) on March 9.-Alexander Povetkin (34-2): WBA #9 / WBC #7The former Olympic & World champion is rumored to be facing Usyk in the future, though will return in May.Cruiserweight:-Aleksei Egorov (7-0): WBA #7The 2013 European champion added 3 more wins to his record in 2018, including one over former world title challenger Lateef Kayode (21-4). Egorov faces Thomas Oosthuizen (28-2) on March 23rd in Russia.-Dmitry Kudryashov (23-2): WBC #5The former WBC Silver & WBA International champion is expected to fight again in the upcoming months.-Murat Gassiev (26-1): WBO #7 / IBF #6 / WBA #5 / WBC #1No news yet on the return of the former WBA & IBF World champion although he is expected to come back at some point in 2019.-Yury Kashinsky (17-0): WBO #5 / IBF #4 / WBA #4 / WBC #8Kashinsky continued his undefeated streak in 2018, adding 2 more victories to his record.-Ruslan Fayfer (23-1): IBF #8Ruslan ended 2018 with a 1-1 record.Light Heavyweight:-Umar Salamov (23-1): WBO #5 / WBA #7Salamov won the WBO International as well as the IBF North American championships in 2018.Super Middleweight:-Fedor Chudinov (18-2): IBF #6 / WBA #2 / WBC #7Fedor is supposed to defend his WBA International title either in March or April.-Azizbek Abdugofurov (12-0): WBC #6Abdugofurov won the WBC Silver title last year, after defeating Dmitrii Chudinov (21-4).Middleweight:-Gennady Golovkin (38-1): WBO #1 / WBA #1 / WBC #1/ IBF #11GGG is expected to sign with DAZN soon.-Magomed Madiev (12-0): WBA #4Madiev remained undefeated in 2018 while also winning the WBA Asia title.Super Welterweight:-Bakhram Murtazaliev (15-0): WBO #5 / IBF #10Murtazaliev successfully defended his WBC United States championshipfor the first time, on February 2nd, against Elvin Ayala (29-13). -Aram Amirkhanyan (12-0): WBO #7Amirkhanyan earned his biggest victory to date against Khuseyn Baysangurov (14-1), this past December, to become the unified WBO International, WBA Continental & IBF International champion.-Magomed Kurbanov (17-0): IBF #3 / WBA #7 / WBC #12The former WBO International & Intercontinental champion earned a unanimous decision victory overDamian Ezequiel Bonelli (23-6) on February 22nd.-Israil Madrimov (1-0): WBA #9One of the most accomplished amateur Uzbek boxers (Asian Games Gold Medalist & World Championships Silver Medalist) made his successful pro debut in 2018. He takes on Frank Rojas (24-2) on March 9.Welterweight:-Qudratillo Abduqaxorov (15-0): IBF #4 / WBC #5 / WBO #11The undefeated former WBC Silver champion will go up against the 2 time WBO Asia Pacific champion Keita Obara (20-3), in an IBF world title eliminator, on March 30.-Alexander Besputin (12-0): IBF #8 / WBA #1The 2013 European champion expanded his winning streak to 12 in 2018 and also gained the USBA title. His next fight will take place on April 12. (Opponent TBA)- Radzhab Butaev (10-0): WBA #8The accomplished Russian amateur boxer will go up against 51 fight veteran Lanardo Tyner (35-14) on March 8.Super Lightweight:-Batyr Akhmedov (5-0): WBA #2Akhmedov won the vacant WBA Intercontinental title, back in March of 2018. His first defense was against former interim WBA World Lightweight champion Ismael Barroso (20-3) in August. -Shohjahon Ergashev (16-0): WBA #4 / IBF #7The WBA International champion returned to the ring, on February 15, against then undefeated boxer Mykal Fox (19-1).-Georgi Chelokhsaev (16-1): WBO #6Chelokhsaev won the Eurasian title this past November.-Maxim Dadashev (12-0): IBF #4 / WBC #7Top Rank fighter Dadashev takes on Ricky Sismundo (25-12) on March 23rd.-Eduard Troyanovsky (27-2): WBA #7 / WBC #8The former World champion failed to capture the WBA title this past October.Lightweight:-Roman Andreev (22-0): WBO #1 / IBF #4The undefeated former WBO European & Intercontinental champion is next in line to face the winner of Lomachenko/Crolla for the WBO title.-Zaur Abdullaev (11-0): WBC #2The WBC Silver title holder stoppedHumberto Martinez (33-9) on February 22nd.Super Featherweight:-Shavkat Rakhimov (13-0): IBF #7 / WBC #4Rakhimov is scheduled to defend his IBO belt against Rofhiwa Maemu (18-7) on March 23.-Akzhol Sulaimanbek Uulu (13-0): WBA #8Sulaimanbek won the WBA Asia title in 2018 and has already marked 2 successful title defenses. He will make his third one on March 23rd against Pipat Chaiporn (45-12) in Russia.-Denis Shafikov (40-4): IBF #8Shafikov fought Gaybatulla Gadzhialiev (6-1), on February 9t, to a draw.Featherweight:-Tugstsogt Nyambayar (11-0): IBF #7 / WBC #1The 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist recently defeated Claudio Marrero (23-3) to earn the vacant IBO belt. Prior to that, Nyambayar stopped 2 division champion Oscar Escandon (25-5).Super Bantamweight:-Murodjon Akhmadaliev (5-0): WBA #1The 2016 Olympic Bronze Medalist made his pro debut last year and amassed 5 victories (4 stoppages) as well as the WBA Intercontinental championship.Bantamweight:-Nikolai Potapov (19-1): WBO #6 / IBF #13Potapov will compete on March 30 inRussia. (Opponent TBA).]]>Sat, 09 Mar 2019 21:18:52 GMThttp://www.asianboxing.info/features/world-ranked-south-east-asian-fighters-february-2019

Strawweight:-Rene Mark Cuarto (16-1): IBF #5 / WBO #8Cuarto won his first championship in August after he fought Clyde Azarcon (14-2) for the vacant WBO Oriental title. He will face Samuel Salva (16-0) in an IBF world title eliminator, on March 23rd.-Robert Paradero (17-0): WBO #1Paradero’s next fight will be against Wilfredo Mendez (11-1) for the vacant WBO Intercontinental championship, on March 8.-Samuel Salva (16-0): IBF #4The Filipino prospect remained undefeated in 2018 as well, thus adding 4 more victories to his record. As mentioned above, Salva and Rene Mark Cuarto (16-1) will square off, for a chance at the IBF World championship, March 23rd, in Manila.-Pedro Taduran (13-2): IBF #7 / WBC #9Taduran began 2018 very promising as he dropped former world title challenger Jerry Tomogdan (26-10) in the fifth round, but couldn’t capitalize on that momentum in his World championship bout against Chayaphon Moonsri (52-0). He beat Jeffrey Galero (17-6) in December. -Melvin Jerusalem (14-2): IBF #9Jerusalem got a unanimous decision victory over 2 time world title challenger Toto Landero (10-4) this past November.-Mark Anthony Barriga (9-1): IBF #3 / WBA #5/ WBC #13Barriga failed to capture the vacant IBF World Championship in December.Light Flyweight:-Jonathan Taconing (28-3): WBC #1 / WBO #1 / WBA #2 / IBF #6Taconing defended his WBC International championship, for the second time, this past September against former world title contender Vince Paras (13-2). A match with either the WBO World champion Angel Acosta (19-1) or the WBC World champion Ken Shiro (15-0),seem to be the next step for him.-Edward Heno (14-0): WBO #3 / WBC #3 / WBA #4Heno made 2 title defenses of the OPBF championship, within 2018, over Jesse Espinas (19-3) as well as former World champion Merlito Sabillo (27-6). His third successful OPBF title defense took place in Japan, against Koji Itagaki (18-14), on February 11.-Jing Xiang (16-4): WBA #8 / WBO #8 / WBC #92018 was a quite successful year for Xiang as he, not only captured the vacant WBO Intercontinental title in January, but also earned a huge victory after defeating former World champion Merlito Sabillo (27-6), this past September, to become the WBC Silver champion. 2019 already brought another major test for the Chinese rising star as he successfully defended his WBC Silver title against 2 division World champion Suriyan Satorn (59-7), on January 5th, in China. -Christian Araneta (17-0): IBF #4 / WBA #9 / WBC #10 / WBO #12Araneta added 3 more wins to his perfect record, in 2018, including a stoppage victory over former world title contender Jerry Tomogdan (26-10), in August.-Rey Loreto (24-14): WBC #8Loreto has only fought once in 2018.-Randy Petalcorin (29-3): IBF #10The former interim WBA World champion will return to action on April 6, inAustralia. (Opponent TBA)

Flyweight:-Giemel Magramo (23-1): WBO #5 / WBC #5 / WBA #8 / IBF #8The Filipino captured the vacant WBO Oriental title on March of 2018 and successfully defended it in October, against Petchchorhae Kokietgym (17-2). Magramo kicked off 2019 with a bang as he stopped Wenfeng Ge (11-1) for the WBO International titleon January 5th, in China.-Teeraphong Utaida (38-6): IBF #5Utaida went 4-0 in 2018, moving up to Flyweight only recently and soon became the IBF Pan Pacific champion. [Ed's note - Utaida, aka Fahlan Sakkreerin will face Jayson Mama on March 28th in China]-Wulan Tuolehazi (10-3): WBC #10The WBC Silver champion will face Japanese standout Ryota Yamauchi (4-0), on March 30, for the vacant WBA International title.-Sarawut Thawornkham (20-1): WBA #1The former WBA Asia champion has fought twice in 2018 and has knocked out both of his opponents. He could be fighting Josber Perez (15-1) in the near future.-Nare Yianleang (69-5): WBA #2 / WBC #7Since losing to Kazuto Ioka in 2017, Yianleanghas been undefeated in his last 7 fights.-Komgrich Nantapech (25-5): IBF #3Nantapech became the IBF Pan Pacific champion in 2018, when he earned a decision win over Naoki Mochizuki (15-3). He was supposed to face Masayuki Kuroda (30-7) in an IBF World title eliminator bout on November 21st, but due to a sudden injury, he wasn’t able to compete. Komgrich later had to vacate his belt but still managed to pick two more victories before the year was over.-Sirichai Thaiyen (52-4): WBA #7The former WBA interim World champion failed the recapture the crown this summer in Ukraine when he fought Artem Dalakian (18-0). Since then, he has won 2 more fights.

Bantamweight:-Michael Dasmarinas (28-2): IBF #4 / WBC #13Dasmarinas knocked out former EBU European champion Karim Guerfi (28-4)in 2018 to win the IBO title. He will square off against Kenny Demecillo (14-4), on March 23rd, in an IBF world title eliminator.-Kenny Demecillo (14-4): IBF #3Demecillo has fought only once in 2018, scoring a KO win over Vyacheslav Mirzaev (11-1) in Russia. As mentioned above, he takes on Michael Dasmarinas (28-2) in Singapore. -John Casimero (26-4): WBO #7The former 2 division world champion stopped Kenya Yamashita (13-5) on February 16.-Ben Mananquil (17-1): WBA #10The Filipino earned a huge win against Japanese star Tenta Kiyoshe (15-3), on February 10, to win the WBO Asia Pacific championship. -Arthur Villanueva (32-3): WBO #8 / WBC #14Villanueva has one win and one draw in 2018.

Super Bantamweight:-Albert Pagara (31-1): WBO #1 / IBF #6Pagara stopped Laryea Gabriel Odoi(20-4) this past June, to become the WBO Intercontinental champion. He successfully made his inaugural title defense against George Krampah (14-4) in November. He will return to action in early March (Opponent TBA).-Juan Miguel Elorde (27-1): WBO #2Elorde has won the WBO Asia Pacific championshipin 2015 and has defended it successfully thrice since then.-Marlon Tapales (32-2): IBF #4/ WBO #7The former WBO Bantamweight World champion has been 2-0 since moving up a weight class.-Nawaphon Kaikanha (44-1): WBC #10Kaikanha went 5-0 in 2018 and even scored a TKO victory over former World champion Amnat Ruenroeng (18-3).-Jeo Santisima (17-2): WBO #10The Filipino won the vacant WBO Oriental title this past summer and has already defended it once.

Strawweight:-Tatsuya Fukuhara (21-6): WBC #6The former World champion will get another shot at Chayaphon Moonsri (52-0) and the WBC title, on March 29, inThailand.-Tsubasa Koura (14-0): WBC #3 / WBA #8 / WBO #10 / IBF #11 Koura has been the OPBF champion since 2017 and has marked 3 successful title defenses. His next one will take place on March 31st, against Lito Dante (15-10).-Masataka Taniguchi (11-3): WBO #2Taniguchi defeated Joel Lino (10-1), back in November, for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific title. He unsuccessfully challengedVic Saludar (19-3) on February 26 for the WBO World title.-Norihito Tanaka (18-7): WBC #10 / IBF #12 / WBA #13Tanaka won the Japanese title, this past January, for the first time in his career.-Shin Ono (23-10): WBO #4Ono lost his Japanese title to Norihito Tanaka (18-7) on January 12.Light Flyweight:-Tetsuya Hisada (33-9): WBA #1 /WBO #2 / WBC #2 / IBF #9Afterrecording a 5th successful Japanese title defense in November, before vacating the belt, Hisada is now rumored to fight Carlos Canizales (21-0) for the WBA (Regular) World championship.-Reiya Konishi (17-1): WBA #3 / IBF #3/ WBO #4 / WBC #5The WBO Asia Pacific champion will clash with Felix Alvarado (34-2) for the IBF World title, either in April or May.Kenichi Horikawa (39-18): WBC #6Horikawa ended 2018 with a 4-0 record.He beat Satoru Todaka (9-3) on February 14, to win the Japanese title for the second time in his career. Flyweight:-Ryoichi Taguchi (27-3): WBO #4The former IBF & WBA Light Flyweight World champion is moving up a weight class to challenge Kosei Tanaka (12-0), for the WBO strap, on March 16.-Junto Nakatani (18-0): WBC #4 / WBO #9 / IBF #13 / WBA #14The unstoppable Japanese prospect has fought 4 times in 2018 and has won all of his bouts, 2 of them via KO. He finally wonhis first championship, when he stoppedNaoki Mochizuki (15-4), on February 2nd, for the vacant Japanese crown.

-Masayuki Kuroda (30-7): WBO #3 / IBF #4Kuroda, who is currently on a 6 fight winning streak, will meet Moruti Mthalane (37-2) for the IBF World title on May 13.

-Sho Kimura (17-2): WBO #6The former WBO World champion lost his title to Kosei Tanaka (12-0) this past September, in a FOTY candidate. He will now go up against Thai veteran Wicha Phulaikhao (60-10) for the vacant OPBF Silver title, on March 30.

Super Flyweight:-Ryuichi Funai (31-7): IBF #1 / WBO #3 / WBC #11The former Japanese & WBO Asia Pacific champion will challengeJerwin Ancajas (30-1) for the IBF World title, either on April 12 or April 20.-Sho Ishida (27-1): IBF #5/ WBO #5 / WBA #7 / WBC #11Since losing to the WBA world champion Khalid Yafai (25-0) in 2017, Ishida has won all of his 2018 bouts, against Ratchanon Sawangsoda (12-3), Richard Claveras (18-6), as well as former world title contender Warlito Parrenas (26-9).

-Kazuto Ioka (23-2): WBC #3 / WBO #4Ioka debuted at the Super Flyweight division this past September, defeating McWilliams Arroyo (17-4) to become the WBC Silver champion. In December, he fought Donnie Nietes (42-1), for the vacant WBO World title, losing a very close decision.He is rumored to be facing Aston Palicte (25-2) for the same championship again.

-Daigo Higa (15-1): WBA #6The former WBC Flyweight World champion is expected to make his return to the ring in 2019.

Super Bantamweight:-Ryosuke Iwasa (26-3): IBF #1Iwasa won an IBF title eliminatoragainst Cesar Juarez (23-7), on February 16. He now has the opportunity to challenge TJ Doheny (21-0) and to reclaim his World championship.

-Shingo Wake (26-5): IBF #3 / WBC #4The former Japanese & OPBF champion has been on a 6 fight winning streak since losing to Jonathan Guzman (23-1) in 2016.

-Hiroaki Teshigawara (19-2): IBF #9Teshigawara made his Super Bantamweight debut last year, stopping Glenn Suminguit (21-4) to win the OPBF championship. He marked his first successful title defense on February 14, against Yuki Iriguchi (10-3).

-Yukinori Oguni (20-2): WBA #4After losing his World title in 2017, Oguni has picked only one victory in 2018. He’s scheduled to fight on May 8. (Opponent TBA)

-Hiroshige Osawa (34-5): WBA #5 / IBF #13The former OPBF & WBO Asia Pacific champion finds himself once again in the world rankings, since losing to WBO World champion Oscar Valdez (24-0) in 2016.

-Reiya Abe (19-2): IBF #4 / WBC #13Abe is the number 1 contender for Taiki Minamoto’s (16-5) Japanese title. These 2 men will collide at the 2019 Champion Carnival, on May 1st.

Super Featherweight:-Masaru Sueyoshi (18-1): WBO #4Sueyoshi will defend his Japanese championship, for afourth time, against Ken Osato (15-2), on May 4th.

-Kenichi Ogawa (23-1): IBF #5The former Japanese champion returned to ring, after his one year suspension, to defeat Roldan Aldea (12-7) on February 2nd.

Lightweight:-Masayoshi Nakatani (18-0): IBF #3 / WBC #9 / WBO #10Nakatani marked his 11th successful OPBF title defense in December, when he stopped the former WBC International champion Hurricane Futa (25-8) in round 6. He is rumored to face former EBU European & WBA Intercontinental champion Edis Tatli (31-2) in an IBF world title eliminator.

-Nihito Arakawa (31-6): WBO #7The former Japanese, OPBF & WBO Asia Pacific champion is looking for his second world title opportunity in 2019.

Middleweight:-Ryota Murata (14-2): WBC #4 / WBA #6 /IBF #6The 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist lost his WBA (Regular) World title to Rob Brant (25-1) this past October. Rumor has it that he will return to the ring this May in Japan.

Highlights:-Brian Castano retains the secondary WBA super welter title with split draw against Erislandy Lara-Luis Ortiz keeps his hopes of another title shot alive with a win in an entertaining heavyweight fight against Christian Hammer-Agit Kabayel retains European heavyweight title with a win over Andriy Rudenko-WBO No 1 bantam Ricardo Espinoza stops Ricardo Nunez and lies in wait for whoever emerges as WBO champion after the WBSS tournament ends-Jordan Gill gets win No 22 and the WBA feather International title with stoppage of Emmanuel Dominguez-Eduardo Ramirez comes from behind to halt Bryan de Gracia for vacant WBA Gold title at featherweightWORLD TITLE SHOWSMarch 2New York, NY, USA: Super Welter: Brian Castano (16-0-0) DREW 12 Erislandy Lara (25-3-3). Heavy: Luis Ortiz (31-1) W PTS 10 Christian Hammer (24-6) . Feather: Eduardo Ramirez (22-1-3) W TKO 9 Bryan De Gracia (24-2-1). Cruiser: Edwin Rodriguez (31-2) W PTS 10 Mitch Williams (16-6-3), Bantam: Antonio Russell (13-0) W TKO 6Jose Cardenas (16-4).Castano vs. LaraCastano retains the secondary WBA title with split draw against former champion Lara in a contrast in styles fight which was close from bell to bell.Round 1Good first round for Lara. The Cuban kept probing with his right jab and threading straight lefts through Castano’s guard. With Lara trapped on the ropes Castano fired a series of punches but Lara ducked or blocked them.Score: 10-9 LaraRound 2Castano is not a boxer. He rarely used his jab here except as a prelude to ducking and lunging forward leading with his right aiming to get close and throw hooks and uppercuts. Lara was anticipating Castano’s attacks and either stepping back out of range or scoring with counters. Again most of the scoring was coming from the straight lefts of Lara.Score: 10-9 LaraLara 20-18A better round for Castano. He harried Lara around the ring doing a better job of cutting off Lara’s escape routes and firing burst s of hooks. Lara was making less use of his jab and was kept busy defending himself.Score: 10-9 CastanoLara 29-28Round 4Lara countered many of Castano’s rushes in this round but Castano continued to hunt Lara around the ring getting inside and launching a series of punches. He just did enough to win the round with Lara showing a swelling under his right eye.Score: 10-9 CastanoTied 38-38Official Scores; Judge Julie Lederman 38-38, Judge John Mckaie 39-37 Lara, Judge Kevin Morgan 38-38Round 5A closer round. Lara rarely got off the ropes as Castano tracked him looking for an opening. Lara was largely relying on left hand counters and landed enough to look likely to pinch the round until a broadside of hooks and uppercuts from Castano gave him the edge.Score: 10-9 CastanoCastano 48-47Round 6Another close round but straight lefts from Lara gave him a slight edge. Castano was still pressing and throwing bindles of hooks whenever he had Lara punned in a corner but Lara was blocking most of those punches and firing more accurate lefts through the leaky guard of Castano.Score: 10-9 LaraTied 57-57Round 7A similar picture here. Castano kept pressing but Lara kept slotting lefts through the Argentinian’s guard. Castano was again punching in bursts but was nothing like as accurate as Lara and even though Lara was throwing one punch at a time they were getting through.Score: 10-9 LaraLara 67-66Round 8Third round in a row for Lara. Once again his laser guided straight left was piercing the high guard of Castano throughout the round. Lara was using his right jab for nuisance value putting Castano out of his stride and stifling his attacks and Castano was having trouble getting close enough often enough to trouble LaraScore: 10-9 LaraLara 77-75Official Scores; Lederman 77-74 Lara, McKaie 78-74Lara, Morgan 77-75 LaraRound 9Lara outboxed Castano in this one. He kept his jab in Castano’s face and then shot lefts down the line past Castano’s guard. Castano was waiting too long to launch his attacks and was either inaccurate or tied up inside when he did attack.Score: 10-9 LaraLara 87-84Round 10Castano’s title was slipping away and he stepped up the pace in this one throwing himself into the attack. Lara continued to box on the back foot and showed excellent defensive skills and connected with his trade mark straight lefts and edged the round.Score: 10-9 LaraLara 97-93Round 11Castano took this one. He pressured Lara all the way. Lara was still the more accurate but he looked to be tiring and threw less. Castano went for quantity and connected with enough to take the round.Score: 10-9 CastanoLara 106-103Round 12Castano stormed forward in the last throwing punches. Lara again threw less but was more accurate but Castano punch output had Lara under pressure and enough of Castano’s punches were getting through to more than offset the precise punching by Lara.Score: 10-9 CastanoLara 115-113Official scores: Lederman 114-114, McKaie 115-113 Lara, Morgan 115-113 CastanoThis was the first defence for the 29-year-old Castano since being upgraded from interim champion. He has come through three tough fights in a row beating Frenchmen Michel Soro 30-1-1 and Cedric Vitu 46-2 in France and although a return fight would be justice for Lara Castano could make a case for something easier. Lara is due some luck in close fights. He lost a majority decision to Paul Williams in 2011, a split decision against Saul Alvarez in 2014 and dropped his WBA world title against Jarrett Hurd on a split verdict in April last year. He deserves another shot at Castano but whether he will get it is another matter.Ortiz vs. HammerOrtiz keeps his hopes of another title shots alive with unanimous decision over a crude but strong and willing Hammer. A lively enough opener as Ortiz probed with his right jab and fired straight lefts with Hammer using a high guard and just looking to get inside to work. Early in the second Hammer made Ortiz sag at the knees with a right and he launched a furious attack but Ortiz quickly re-established his control with his jab. By the end of the round Ortiz was scoring with solid lefts with Hammer under pressure and throwing wild rights. Ortiz was circling Hammer in the third and fourth popping him with jabs and finding the target with straight lefts. Hammer was only throwing single punches but was landing with enough rights to be competitive. Ortiz opened the fifth with a series of straight lefts that had blood dripping from Hammer’s nose but then eased the pressure allowing Hammer some success and Ortiz was also showing blood from his nose. Ortiz finished the round with a strong attack. Ortiz dominated the sixth with his jab and Hammer was getting more desperate with his wild rights. Hammer started the seventh with a sharp uppercut inside but then Ortiz took over again with his jab and straight lefts. Hammer had a much better eighth. He was only firing rights but they were getting through to head and body and Ortiz was looking tired. If Ortiz had looked tired in the eighth he was dancing on his toes in the ninth. He was circling Hammer pinging him with jabs and connecting with his left. Hammer was taking the punches and still flinging and landing some hopeful rights. There were no fireworks in the last as Ortiz did the scoring with Hammer really content to stay there to the bell after which he lifted his arms in triumph-for going the distance. Scores 99-91 twice and 100-90 for Ortiz. Although the 39-year-old Cuban was expected to finish this one early he will have been happy to show he can go ten rounds at what was a good paced fight for heavyweights and he keeps himself in the picture for the now very confused heavyweight situation. He will be hoping for another fight with Deontay Wilder but right now all he can do is keep winning and keep hoping. German-based Romanian Hammer (real name Cristian Ciocan) has wins over Erkan Teper and David Price. He is slow and crude but strong and takes a good punch. After a couple of inside the distance losses early in his career Tyson Fury is the only one to have beat en him before the final bell.Ramirez vs. De Gracia Ramirez gets huge win as he withstands constant pressure from De Gracia before halting de Gracia in the ninth. After a fast and fairly even first round De Gracia started to control the fight from the second. He was forcing Ramirez onto the back foot and scoring with long rights. Ramirez tried to use his longer reach to score with his right jabs but De Gracia was busier and getting past the jab and connecting with sharp punches to the head and they both scored well in the third. De Gracia stepped up the pace in the fourth with Ramirez trying to match him. De Gracia was connecting with hooks inside and outscoring Ramirez but Ramirez was landing some good punches of his own. De Gracia chased Ramirez down throughout the fifth piling forward throwing hooks to the body. Ramirez was countering when he could and just before the bell they stood toe-to-toe and blazed away. More pressure from De Gracia in the sixth and seventh as he pressured Ramirez relentlessly. There were some danger signs as De Gracia was leaving himself open to counters. Ramirez seemed to rock De Gracia with a right in the eighth but De Gracia responded with a series of hooks and once again they just stood and battered away at each other. De Gracia was throwing himself forward in the ninth. He had just landed a couple of good punches when Ramirez nailed him with a right uppercut inside. De Gracia’s legs wobbled and Ramirez forced De Gracia to the ropes showering him with punches. De Gracia threw a couple of punches and came off the ropes but he was staggering and when a right sent him tumbling back to the ropes the fight was stopped. This was a great little fight with a dramatic end and with De Gracia rated No 1 by the WBA and Ramirez No 3 a shot at Leo Santa Cruz is not out of the question. Ramirez has nine wins by KO/TKO and collects the WBA Gold title. His only loss was handed to him by Lee Selby in an IBF featherweight title fight in December 2017. This was 25-year-old De Gracia’s first fight outside of Panama and despite his No 1 rating with the WBA he had never fought a rated fight or anyone of consequence.Rodriguez vs. WilliamsThird win in a row for Rodriguez in his campaign up at cruiser but a very flat performance. He only just got past southpaw Williams in a slow and untidy fight with neither fighter really taking control and with too much holding and too little clean work. No real highlights with Rodriguez getting the verdict on scores of 96-94 twice and 98-92. The former WBA super middle title challenger took fifteen months out after a kayo loss to Thomas Williams in 2016 and seems to be struggling to make an impact up at cruiser. Williams, 36, suffered consecutive losses against world rated fighters Ryad Merhy and Arsen Goulamirian in 2017. Russell vs. CardenasRussell marches on with stoppage of young Mexican Cardenas. Russell made a fast start putting Cardenas down with a series of lefts to the head in the first . Cardenas only survived to the bell by holding for which he was given two warnings. Russell took the fight to Cardenas in round after round. Cardenas used his longer reach to make a nuisance of himself but there was no power in his punches. Straight from the bell to start the sixth Russell blasted Cardenas to a corner and showered him with punches. Cardenas was actually managing to throw an occasional punch but the doctor had move up to the ring apron and the referee stopped the fight. A younger brother of WBC feather champion Gary, Antonio, 26, has eleven wins by KO/TKO including six in his last six fights. First inside the distance defeat for Cardenas.March 1Hollywood, FL: Bantam: Ricardo Espinoza (23-2) W TKO 10 Ricardo Nunez (29-9). Welter: Derrieck Cuevas (20-0-1) W PTS 10 Ed Paredes (38-8-1). Feather: Hairon Socarras (21-0-3) W PTS 8 Carlos Ruiz (16-6-2).Espinoza vs. NunezEspinoza just too powerful and aggressive for experienced Panamanian Nunez. Espinoza was much stronger in the two opening rounds getting inside and hurting Nunez with body punches. Nunez did a bit better in the third as he tried to box from a distance but Espinoza was too strong to be kept out and again was landing hurtful body punches. Espinoza continued to drive forward in the fourth just brushing aside Nunez’s punches and hooking to the body. The pace eased in the fifth with Espinoza still doing the scoring but in the sixth he launched a fierce attack with Nunez forced to just try and stay inside and smother Espinoza’s punches. Nunez boxed more in the seventh which looked a close round and Espinoza was not as effective with his body punching in the eighth and ninth which Nunez may have just edged. That was a false dawn for Nunez’s hopes as in the tenth he was stunned by a left hook. Espinoza then came forward landing to the head with both hands as Nunez tumbled into the ropes and the referee stepped in and saved him. The 21-year-old WBO No 1 from Tijuana goes to 19 wins by KO/TKO. His best wins have been against Daniel Lozano and the 17-0 Yeison Vargas. As No 1 he is obviously in line for a title fight but with WBO champion Zolani Tete involved in the WBSS he may have to wait until later this year for a shot at whoever is the champion then. Nunez, 31, lost to Moruti Mthalane for the IBF flyweight title in 2012 and to Juan Carlos Reveco for the secondary WBA title in 2013. In his most recent fight he lost a technical decision to Carlos Cuadras in August and is not really strong enough to be competitive at bantam.Cuevas vs. Paredes Puerto Rican Cuevas wins the WBA Fedelatin title with unanimous decision over rusty veteran Paredes. Cuevas pressed the fight all the way with Paredes trying to counter to keep Cuevas out. The Puerto Rican was usually able to keep Paredes on the back foot and pinned to the ropes but he never really had Paredes in any serious trouble. Scores 98-92 twice and 97-73 all votes for Cuevas. After an early career draw the 24-year-old Cuevas has collected 14 consecutive wins. Paredes, 34, was having his first fight since May 2017.Socarras vs. RuizSocarras remains undefeated with close unanimous decision over Mexican Ruiz. Scores 77-75 twice and 79-73 for Socarras. The 26-year-old Cuban turned pro at 18 and his career has dragged along with the two draws against fighters he should have beaten but he showed good form in outpointing useful Jose Nieves in August. Ruiz has now lost 3 of his last 4 fights and was outpointed by Shakur Stevenson in August.Philadelphia, PA,USA: Super Welter: Tyrone Brunson (28-7-2) W TKO 9 Jamal Davis (18-14-1).Brunson punches too hard for oldie Davis. In the first Davis was prowling after the retreating Brunson until Brunson rocked Davis badly with a right and then launched a furious attack scoring with more rights until Davis steadied himself enough to stave off further attacks. Davis continued to come forward in the second but a left to the head wobbled him badly and he had to hold on. Davis marched forward throughout the fight but as the fight progressed Brunson was getting on to the front foot more and rocked Davis with right in the sixth and with a left in the seventh. It was clear Brunson had the power and he floored Davis with a chopping right late in the eighth. Davis made it to his feet but stumbled and the bell went before Brunson could land another punch.In the ninth a right put Davis down again, he was up at eight but when another punch from Brunson saw him staggering the referee stepped in and halted the fight. Local fighter Brunson, 34, has 25 wins by KO/TKO and is 6-1-1 in his last 8 fights including a win over Kermit Cintron and a loss to Brandon Adams. Brunson still holds the record for the most consecutive first round wins at the start of career at 18. Davis, 37, had won 4 of his las5 fights.Eveleigh, Australia: Bantam: Brock Jarvis (16-0) W KO 1 Philip Cuerdo (11-6-1).Jarvis gets this one over quickly. Just before the bell to end the first round he delivered a series of body punches that drove Cuerdo to the canvas and he was counted out. The Jeff Fenech trained Jarvis collects the vacant IBF Youth title with his fifteenth win by KO/TKO. At 5’7” Jarvis is big for a super bantam and that usual struggle to make weight was made worse by his asthma and there was some doubt as to whether he would be able to make the weight and go ahead with this fight but he won that battle too. Filipino Cuerdo now has five inside the distance losses.Melbourne, Australia: Cruiser: Kane Watts (21-3) W PTS 10 Jayden Joseph (7-2-1). Heavy: Willis Meehan (8-0) W KO 1 Julian Ruiz (11-9).Watts vs. JosephLocal fighter Watts wins the vacant WBA Oceania title with unanimous decision over Tasmanian Jayden Jordan. Watts floored Joseph early and looked a comfortable winner. Two of the judges saw it that way scoring it 99-90 and 97-92 but the third judge had it 95-94 also for Watts but indicating he would have seen Joseph the winner but for the knockdown. The 36-year-old Watts, a former Australian champion, returned with a win in September after almost two years of inactivity. He has his own plumbing business but you would have thought that with name like Watts he would have been an electrician. Joseph, also a former Australian champion, suffers his second loss in a row. There was tragedy on the night as after trouble that started in the arena and continued outside one man was shot and killed and two were seriously injured. The police were searching for two suspects who had been spotted running from the scene. The shootings were not associated with the boxing but are reported to be part of an ongoing underworld feud.Meehan vs. RuizSouthpaw Meehan makes it seven wins on the trot by KO/TKO as he disposes of ancient Argentinian Ruiz inside a round. The 23-year-old 6’5” Meehan is the son of former WBO heavyweight title challenger Kali Meehan. Willis also plays professional rugby league and this is his fourth one round victory. Dad Kali challenged Lamon Brewster for the WBO title in 2004 losing on a split decision. Now 8 losses by KO/TKO for 42-year-old Ruiz.Legionowo, Poland: Super Feather :Viktor Kotochigov (8-0) W KO 6 Piotr Gudel (9-3-1). Cruiser: Michal Cieslak (18-0,1ND) W RTD 7 Youri Kayembre Kalenga (24-6).Gudel vs. KotochigovKazak Kotochigov wins the vacant Polish International title with stoppage of Pole Gudel. From the first Gudel was bustling forward but was having problems getting past the long reach of the taller Kazak and he was staggered by a left hook in the first. Gudel had some success with his rushing attacks in the second but Kotochigov was more accurate and he handed out a severe beating to Gudel in rounds three and four. The fifth was another painful round for Gudel as Kotochigov speared him with jabs and straight rights at distance and rocked him with uppercuts inside. Gudel was still marching forward in the sixth when a short left hook to the temple sent him staggering across the ring and down in a heap at the ropes. Gudel staggered to his feet at sixth but then tumbled face first into a corner and the referee immediately halted the fight. Fourth win by KO/TKO for 25-year-old Kotochigov who has fought in seven different countries for his eight wins. Gudel had won his last four fights.Cieslak vs. Kalenga Cieslak outboxes and then forces Kalenga out of the fight. The tall Pole was almost a full head taller than Kalenga and he used his longer reach well slotting home jabs and rights. Kalenga attacked hard in the first but Cieslak showed clever movement and was countering accurately with left hooks. Kalenga’s tactics were to take Cieslak to the ropes and then fire wild punches and he was leaving himself open for hooks from Cieslak. Cieslak was confident enough to be switching guards as he outboxed Kalenga over the third and fourth and Kalenga’s task was made ever harder after a punch from Cieslak opened a cut over Kalenga’s left eye in the fifth. The cut was worsened after a clash of heads in the same round and a series of jabs from Cieslak had blood dripping from Kalenga’s nose. A pair of left hooks shook Kalenga in the sixth and his work rated dropped as he was fading rapidly. Cieslak cut loose in the seventh changing guards and scoring heavily with both hands. Two left hooks followed by a series of head punches staggered Kalenga and Kalenga retired at the end of the round. The 29-year-old 6’3” Pole, the EBU No 18, has twelve wins by KO/TKO. Kalenga, 30, born in the DRC but now living in Paris, is a former WBA interim champion who lost to Denis Lebedev in 2015 for the real WBA title. He has slipped down the rankings after defeats against Yuniel Dorticos, Kevin Lerena and Mateusz Masternak. Cardiff, Wales: Super Light: Akeem Ennis-Brown (13-0) W PTS 10Bilal Rehman (12-1). Super Middle: Alex Hughes (13-0) W KO 1 Wilmer Gonzalez (19-13-1). Bantam: Jay Harris (15-0) W PTS 6 Brett Fidoe (13-49-5).Ennis-Brown vs. RehmanEnnis-Brown retains the IBF European title with wide unanimous decision over Rehman. On one side of the scales you had the tall long limbed Rehman and balancing that the unusual quick southpaw style of Brown. It was Brown who won out. He is perpetual motion and outworked Rehman in round after round. The styles did not fit well together and there was too much holding. Ennis-Brown was much quicker and was constantly ducking under Rehman’s lead and working inside and was a clear winner but he will have better nights. Scores 99-91 for Ennis-Brown from the three judges. He has wins over Chris Jenkins and Darragh Foley. Central Area champion Rehman has a win over useful Lee Appleyard.Hughes vs. GonzalezWelshman Hughes makes it four first round wins in a row as he finishes Nicaraguan Gonzalez in just 124 seconds. Gonzalez came out aggressively trying to take the fight to the much taller Hughes but was short with his jabs. He tried to get closer by putting his head down and lunging forward but Hughesconnected with some sharp uppercuts. Hughes fired a combination to the head then dug a vicious left hook in the body of Gonzalez and the Nicaraguan dropped to the floor. He arose at seven but when the action restarted another left to the body dropped Gonzalez and he was counted out. The 6’2” Hughes, 25, seems to have found a power source as prior to these four quick wins he had scored five consecutive points victories. Now based in Spain Gonzalez gets his fourth loss in a row and last time out in April last year he lost inside a round to Lennox ClarkeHarris vs. FidoeHarris gets in some ring time and actually has to work hard against late substitute Fidoe. Harris had loads of height and reach over the 5’2” Fidoe and was always rolling forward behind his jab and firing hooks and uppercuts inside. Despite his record Fidoe has plenty of skills but little power. That did not stop him from standing and trading with Harris and he had success with hooks inside. Harris pressed hard but Fidoe is also pretty slick and although Harris won every round Fidoe made him work hard in every round and did enough to pinch a couple of rounds on his work rate. Referee’s score 59-57 for Harris. The Commonwealth champion Harris really has his sights set on either or both British and European titles and is rated No 11 (9) by the IBF. Experiencedjourneyman Fidoe came in at just 24 hours notice and did his usual job of fighting hard and staying the distance. He has 49 losses but only one of those came inside the distance.March 2Magdeburg, Germany: Heavy: Agit Kabayel (19-0) W PTS 12 Andriy Rudenko (32-4). Heavy: Tom Schwarz (24-0) W KO 2 Kristijan Krstacic (17-2). Light Heavy: Adam Deines (17-0-1) W TKO 3 Zoltan Sera (32-18-1). Super Welter: Mohammed Rabii (9-0) W PTS 8 Rafal Jackiewicz (50-22-2).Heavy: Erik Pfeifer (4-0) W KO 1 Angelo Rizzo (5-1-1).Heavy: Pater Kadiru (1-0) W PTS 6 Artur Kubiak (1-1). Kabayel vs. RudenkoKabayel retains the European title with wide unanimous decision over a tough Rudenko.In the opener Kabayel was more mobile and quicker with his hands. He worked on the outside firing quick jabs and straight rights. The slower Rudenko was walking Kabayel down looking to land big rights but was just too slow. Rudenko improved in the second and third. He did a better job of cutting the ring off and landed some good rights but had no real defence against the champions jab. Kabayel was standing and trading more. This was warming up into an interesting contest. Kabayel was on the front foot more now but Rudenko showed he also had a strong jab and was dangerous if crude with rights. In the fifth Kabayel looked to be breaking Rudenko down as he connected with jabs, hooks and uppercuts. The fight seemed to be over when he sent Rudenko to the floor with a left hook to the body in the sixth. Rudenko made it to his feet but it looked as though he did not want to continue and Kabayel landed some more hurtful body punches. Surprisingly Rudenko then fought back hard getting inside and connecting with clubbing head punches and had the better of the action to the bell. Kabayel dominated the seventh and eighth forcing Rudenko back with powerful jabs and again landing with left hooks to the body. Rudenko soaked up some fierce punishment in the ninth but fought back often enough in the tenth to stave off a stoppage. Rudenko had a better eleventh. As both tired he was coming forward behind his jab and chucking rights. Kabayel rocked Rudenko with a right cross but his work rate had dropped.Kabayel wasn’t looking to take any chances in the last and it was Rudenko marching forward and throwing punches who seemed to take the round. Scores 119-109, 117-110 and 116-111for Kabayel. The 29-year-old German of Turkish antecedents was making the third defence of the European title. He is rated IBF 3 (2)/WBC 8/WBO 9 so very much in the mix for a title shot if not this year then early next. He has points wins over 26-1Herve Hubeaux and Dereck Chisora. Ukrainian Rudenko, 35, has lost on points against Lucas Browne, Hughie Fury and Alex Povetkin and although limited is very strong.Schwarz vs. KrastacicAnother inside the distance win for Schwarz as he kayos Krastacic. In the first Schwarz strode forward behind his jab and landed some clubbing rights to Krastacic’s body. Schwarz started to put some combinations together later in the round but other than an occasional jab Krastacic did nothing. Schwarz was finding the range with rights to the head in the second. Krastacic came to life and connected with a couple of head punches. Schwarz was warned for pushing Krastacic to the canvas and when the action started again Schwarz forced Krastacic to the ropes and connected with a series of punches with a right dropping Krastacic. He clawed his way to his feet but after the eight count some more head punches dropped Krastacic again. He again got up but slowly and obviously was finished but the fight continued and asSchwarz scored with some more cuffing punches Krastacic dropped to the floor and sat out the count. The 24-year-old 6’5 ½” Schwarz retains the WBO Inter-Continental and makes it 16 wins by KO/TKO. His No 2 rating by the WBO is ridiculous as he has never faced an opponent remotely near to the WBO or the EBU ratings. The EBU rate him No 16 which is more realistic. He is big, strong and young enough to improve but is very slow. With his WBO No 2 rating-behind Dillian White- in theory he could soon become WBO No 1 but any thought of him fighting Anthony Joshua this year would be nonsense. Don’t be fooled by Krastacic’s statistics as he has been matched with very poor opposition. Deines vs. SeraGerman southpaw Deines moves to ten wins on the bounce as he beats Hungarian Sera in three rounds. In a messy first round Sera was already in survival mode being warned twice for holding. He also threw himself to the canvas after missing with a wild swing. Deines was sticking to his jab and trying rights and he put Sera down just before the bell with a punch that struck an off balance Sera on the shoulder .The bell went as Sera got up.Deines put Sera down at the start of the second with a right. Sera was not badly shaken but went back to his survival plan. He was warned twice more for holding with Deines finding the target with counters as Sera threw himself forward swinging wildly.There were two more warnings for Sera in the third for thrusting forward and ramming his head into Deines but Deines ended the fight by catching the rushing Sera with two lefts to the head. Sera was up at nine but unsteady and the referee stoppedthe fight., Deines, 28,who scored an important victory over unbeaten Stefan Haertel in 2018, makes it eight wins by KO/TKO. Sera now has 14 losses by KO/TKO.Rabii vs. JackiewiczOlympic bronze medallist Rabbi outpoints Polish veteran Jackiewicz. The Pole tried to take the fight to Rabii but the Moroccan was too quick for him. Rabii was content to work on the back foot sliding around Jackiewicz and scoring flashing combinations. Jackiewicz stuck to his task but the foot speed and swift upper body movement of Rabii meant he was always one or two steps behind the Moroccan. Rabii seemed to have Jackiewicz hurt with a strong attack in the seventh but other than that Jackiewicz, whilst losing every round, was never really in any danger of not lasting the distance. Scores 80-72 for Rabii from the three judges. The 25-year-old Rabii was World Amateur champion in 2015 beating Josh Kelly and eventual Olympic gold medallist Daniyar Yeleussinov on the way to the gold medal. Former European welter champion Jackiewicz is now 42 and has lost 5 of his last 6 outings.Pfeifer vs. RizzoPoor match sees Pfeifer kayo Italian novice in one round. The 32-year-old Russian-born German gets his third win by KO/TKO. Pfeifer was German champion five times, won a gold medal at the 2009 European Union Championships, was twice a bronze medallist at the World Championships but failed to medal at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. His best days may be behind him. Rizzo’s five victims had just five wins between them. Kadiru vs. KubiakYet another name to watch for in the crowded ranks of young heavyweight prospects. Kadiru eases his way into the professionals with a points victory over novice Kubiak. Scores 60-54 for Kadiru from the judges. He towered over Kubiak and showed a strong jab and good movement but rarely put his punches together. It will take him a while to adjust to the professional ranks but then he has time. Kadiru, 22, born in Hamburg of Ghanaian parents, won a silver medal at the Youth World Championships losing to American Darmani Rock in the finals and then took gold at the World Youth Olympics gold with a revenge win over Rock. He was also crowned theEuropean Youth Champion in both 2014 and 2015 beating Daniel Dubois, in the 2014 Championships. Great potential.Peterborough, England: Feather: Jordan Gill (23-0) W TKO 3Emmanuel Dominguez (24-8-2). Feather: Leigh Wood (21-1) W KO 2 Abraham Osei Bonsu (13-4-1). Cruiser: Richard Riakporhe (9-0) W TKO 4 Tommy McCarthy (13-2) . Light Heavy: Anthony Sims (18-0) W TKO 6 Mateo Veron 28-22-3,2ND). Super Bantam: Qais Ashfaq (5-0) W PTS 6 Fadhili Majiha (23-12-4). Super Middle: John Docherty (4-0) W TKO 2 Yailton Neves (4-14)Gill vs. DominguezImperious performance from Gill as he dismantles Mexican Dominguez in three rounds. Most of the early work in the first round consisted of probing jabs but Gill connected with a sharp double left hook and ended the round with a right to the head and a left hook. Dominguez landed a quick left hook in the second but then Gill let his hands go and rocked Dominguez with a good combination and then with a left hook. A right to the head made Dominguez’s legs wobble and the last punch of the round, a right to the head sent Dominguez staggering sideways. A four-punch combination from Gill in the third knocked Dominguez over. Dominguez beat the count but was on unsteady legs. Gill then pushed Dominguez to the canvas so no count. A right and a left put Dominguez down again and although he got up when another punch from Gill sent him stumbling to the ropes the fight was over. The 24-year-old former Commonwealth champion wins the vacant WBA International title with his seventh victory by KO/TKO. For former Mexican super bantam champion Dominguez, 25, this is his second loss by KO/TKO.Wood vs. BonsuWood wins the vacant Commonwealth title with easy stoppage of overmatched Ghanaian. Wood controlled the opening round with stiff jabs and was scoring well with hooks. Bonsu was constantly retreating around the ring prodding with his jab and throwing wide and inaccurate rights. Bonsu had shown nothing in the first and was in trouble early in the second dropping to the canvas from a wicked left hook to the body. He beat the count but was under pressure with Wood patiently stalking him. He pinned Bonsu to the ropes and landed a trio of body punches with Bonsu dropping to a knee. The referee started to count but then just waived the fight over. Wood gets his eleventh win by KO/TKO. His only loss came against Gavin McDonnell in 2014 and this is his ninth win in a row. Former Ghanaian champion Bonsu suffers his second inside the distance defeat.Riakporhe vs. McCarthyLondoner Riakporhe retains the WBA Inter-Continental title with stoppage of McCarthy. There was plenty of action over the first two rounds with both fighters connecting with some strong punches with McCarthy perhaps just a shade in front. The third was also close but a left from Riakporhe seemed to rock McCarthy. Riakporhe was landing heavy jabs in the fourth. McCarthy was coming forward confidently until a huge right cross from Riakporhe saw McCarthy sag at the knees. Riakporhe jumped on him connecting with head punches until McCarthy dropped to one knee. He was up at seven and after the count Riakporhe launched a thunderous right which missed wildly,and probably had them ducking in the dressing rooms, and then bundled McCarthy to the floor. Obviously no count but Riakporhe pursued McCarthy across to a corner and another booming right saw the referee stop the fight. The 29-year-old Riakporhe, who is managed by Dillian Whyte, gets his eighth inside the distance victory. At 6’5” he is big for a cruiser and carries plenty of power. He is of Nigerian parentage and has overcome being stabbed in the chest when 15 and spending some time in prison. He has turned his life around and although enjoying some success as an amateur only turned professional after gaining a university degree. McCarthy’s only other loss was on points against Matty Askin in 2016Sims vs. VeronAnother display of speed and power from Sims as outclasses experienced Veron. Sims used his quick jab to set Veron up for left hooks to the body and Veron was on the back foot from the first round. In the second Sims was putting together some impressive combinations with very little coming back from Veron. The young American continued to punish Veron in the third and fourth and a strong left hook staggered Veron in the fifth. Sims ended it in the sixth. He drove Veron down and almost through the ropes with a straight right and when the action resumed he pounded Veron with punches before putting him face down on the floor with another right. Veron spit out his mouthguard but made it to his feet only for the referee to waive the fight off. The 24-year-old from Indiana makes it 17 wins in a row by KO/TKO. Argentinian Veron has a spotty record but was coming off an upset win over Lolenga Mock in January. This is his ninth loss by KO/TKO. Ashfaq vs. MajihaLeeds southpaw Ashfaq wins every round against Tanzanian Majiha as he progresses along the road to the top level. Referee’s score 60-54. The 25-year-old Ashfaq won gold medals at the Commonwealth Youth Games, the English Elite Championships and the British Championships. He collected silver at the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships losing to Michael Conlan at both events and was a bronze medallist at the 2105 European Games but lost out in his first fight at the Rio Olympics. One to follow. Majiha was coming off an impressive performance where he had unbeaten Cuban Nelson Machado on the floor before losing a split decision.Docherty vs. NevesDocherty is also a top prospect. The young Scot floored Neves in the first and forced the stoppage just before the bell at the end of the second. The 21-year-old Commonwealth Games gold medal winner has taken less than six rounds for his four wins.British based Portuguese southpaw Neves has lost four times by KO/TKO.Tijuana, Mexico: Feather: Jhon Gemino (19-11-1) W TKO 7Carlos Ornelas (22-2). Light Fly: Dewayne Beamon (16-1-2) DRE W 8 Maximino Flores (24-4-2,2ND). Gemino vs. OrnelasGemino comes from behind to stop an overconfident Ornelas. It was Gemino who moved into the lead over the first two rounds. Southpaw Ornelas had the longer reach but Gemino was drawing the jab and scoring with sharp counters. In the third Ornelas was starting to open Gemino up with his jab and then banging lefts to the body. The third, fourth and fifth were close but Ornelas was continually forcing the fight and outscoring Gemino. In the sixth Ornelas controlled the action and was scoring with a series of uppercuts with Gemino looking to be fading. Ornelas came out trying to end it in the seventh. He was forcing Gemino along the ropes with hooks to the body. Gemino came off the ropes and rocked Ornelas with a left hook. They stood and traded hard punches with Gemino again hurting Ornelas with a left. Ornelas just ducked his head and walked forward throwing hooks but was caught with another left hook that staggered him. He tried to drive forward again but was wide open and a left hook to the chin sent him down and he rolled around before leaping to his feet a second too late and being counted out. Gemino, “The Disaster”, proved that for Ornelas. The Filipino was 2-3 in his last 5 but two of those losses were to Emanuel Navarrete and Denis Shafikov and he was coming off an inside the distance win in Japan. Big setback for Ornelas. After 21 wins in a row he suffered a shock stoppage at the hands of novice Willmank Brito in September so his recover is off the tracks.Beamon vs. FloresBeamon and Flores wage war but in the end have to settle for a share of the points. It was a brutal battle with neither fighter wanting to take a step back and the fight swung one way and then the other and their faces carried the signs of the battle. In the end the judges could not all agree with two of them seeing it dead even so it ended as a majority draw. Beamon, 33, was hoping a win here would push him into the world ratings so a draw does not help. Flores is 5-1-2 in his last 8 fights having lost on points to WBC No 1 Andrew Selby in 2017.Arendal, Norway: Welter: Jonathan Eniz (24-11-1,1ND) W PTS 12 Deniz Ilbay (21-2). Cruiser: Kal Robin Havnaa (14-0) W KO 3 Rad Rashid (16-5).Eniz vs. Ilbay Eniz springs a surprise and picks up the vacant IBO Inter-Continental title with close split verdict over Ilbay. Southpaw Eniz boxed well over the opening three rounds but Ilbay stepped up the pace from the fourth forcing Eniz on to the retreat. Ilbay was chasing the quick Eniz down doing most of the scoring but finding him a difficult target and was being caught by surprise counters. It was expected that Ilbay would continue to dominate but his attacks stalled and it was Eniz who was talking the lead. The rounds and the fight were close to the end. It swung to Eniz when he launched a ferocious attack late in the twelfth showering Ilbay with punches and taking the round. Scores 116-112 and 115-113 for Eniz and 115-113 for Ilbay. Second upset win this year for the 24-year-old Eniz after beating former IBF champion Cesar Cuenca in JanuaryAs for German champion Ilbay after losing to Egidijus Kavaliauskas in Las Vegas in 2016 he had been steered carefully through six wins but needs to start again had won his last six fights Havnaa vs. RashidHavnaa returns to action with a kayo of oldie German Rashid. In his first fight for almost 11 months Havnaa took a couple of rounds to get into his stride and ended the fight in the third with a powerful left hook to the body. Rashid dropped to his knees and was counted out. The 30-year-old home town fighter has 12 wins by KO/TKO and collects the vacant IBO International title. He is the son of former undefeated WBO cruiserweight champion Magne Havnaa. German Rashid, 39, gets his second loss by KO/TKO in his last three fights.Fajardo, Puerto Rico: Super Light: Subriel Matias (13-0) W TKO 6 Wilberth Lopez (23-11).Matias keeps his 100% record with stoppage of fellow-southpaw Lopez. After a quiet opening round Matias pressed relentlessly in the second. Lopez was pinned to theropes for the whole three minutes as Matias worked him over inside with hooks and uppercuts. Matias continued the pressure in the third and fourth .Lopez was trying to counter but Matias was either bobbing around the counters or ignoring them and just ceaselessly pumping out punches. The fifth is new territory for Matias as he has never had to go past the fourth round for victory. Lopez had a good spell at the start of the round when for a change he had Matias pinned to the ropes and was unloading with both hands. Matias then drove Lopez back and around the ring showering him with punches from both hands. In the sixth Matias drove Lopez from corner to corner. He was not loading up on his punches but the sheer volume overwhelmed Lopez and he dropped to his knees and was counted out. The 26-year-old “Browny” has an incredible work rate but he won’t always be up against light punchers such as Lopez and that’s where a question remains but 13 inside the distance wins in 13 fights including victories over Daulis Prescott, Adrian Estrella and Fernando Saucedo are a pretty good start. Second inside the distance loss in a row for Lopez.London. England: :Light Heavy: Kirk Garvey (12-2) W PTS 10 Miles Shinkwin (15-4) W.Garvey lifts Shinkwin’s English title on a split decision in a close hard fought battle. The taller Garvey came on over the middle rounds to edge in front. Shinkwin staged a strong finish over the ninth and tenth but it was just not enough to save his title. Scores 96-94 twice for Garvey and 97-94 for Shinkwin. Much needed win for Garvey as he had lost to Andre Sterling for the BBB of C Southern Area title in November so he avoided the stain of consecutive defeats. Shinkwin, a York Hall favourite, was coming off an impressive revenge victory over Joel McIntyre and was hoping a win would propel him into a second shot at the British title.Leeds, England: Super Bantam: Jack Bateson W TKO 1 Pablo Narvaez (9-12-7).Former top amateur Bateson wastes no time is disposing of Nicaraguan loser Narvaez. The Leeds fighter floored Narvaez twice and the bout was halted just past the two minute mark. Fourth win by KO/TKO for the 24-year-old Bateson as he aims to make his mark in the already talent-heavy British scene. In the amateurs fighting at light flyweight Bateson was English and UK champion at both Youth and Senior level took a gold medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games and a bronze medal at the European Championships as well as being a member of the British Lionhearts team at the World Series of Boxing. Poor Barcelona-based Narvaez is now 0-8-1 in his last 9 fights.Los Antiguos, Argentina: Welter: Adrian Veron (24-3) TKO 3 Sergio Liendo (12-5,1ND).Veron crushes Liendo in three rounds in all-southpaw contest. Veron used his longer reach and superior power to boss the action over the first two rounds. In the third a chopping left to the head dropped Liendo. He beat the count but Veron landed a devastating straight left that put Liendo down heavily and the fight was stopped by the referee as the towel came in from Liendo’s corner. Veron, 30 was defending his South American title and moves to 16 wins by KO/TKO, He gets his third win on the bounce after suffering consecutive inside the distance losses to Cesar Barrionuevo. Fifth defeat by KO/TKO for Liendo.Columbus, OH, USA: Heavy: Junior Fa (17-0) W TKO 1 Newfel Ouatah (16-3).Fa decimates poor Ouatah inside a round. Fa was tracking Ouatah around the ring with the taller Frenchman just pawing with a weak jab. As they came out of a clinch a thudding right from Fa dumped Ouatah on the canvas propped up against the ropes. Ouatah got up but it looked as though he did not beat the count. The fight continued and Fa pounced on Ouatah who dropped to his knees under a flurry of punches. This time Ouatah was up at four and after the eight count was completed Fa again drove Ouatah to the canvas. The Frenchman was up quickly again and Fa rushed him to ropes landing a couple of punches and as Ouatah fell to his knees the fight was stopped. Tenth win by KO/TKO for 29-yeart-old New Zealander Fa. He is best known for scoring two wins over Joseph Parker in the amateurs but with 17 wins and a No 8 rating from the WBO those Parker wins no longer define him. Former French champion Ouatah, 33, looked old and fragile in this one.Central Point, OR, USA: Heavy: Mike Wilson (20-1) W RTD 6 German Perez (11-4-3).In his first fight since losing to WBA champion Denis Lebedev Wilson just too strong for Mexican Perez. Wilson dominated the fight from the start keeping Perez on the end of strong jabs and clouting him with heavy rights. He had Perez rocking in the fourth and fifth and opened a cut over Perez’s left eye. Wilson continued to pummel Perez in the sixth and Perez’s corner pulled their man out of the fight at the end of the round. After the glamour of Monte Carlo it is back to bread and butter fights for Wilson as he rebuilds. This is only Perez’s second fight since 2015 so no real threat.Fight of the week (Significance): Brian Castano’s draw with Erislandy was the only world title fight so it qualifiesFight of the week (Entertainment) Eduardo Ramirez vs. Bryan De Gracia and Brian Castano vs. Erislandy deserves a mentionFighter of the week: Luis Ortiz for showing he is still a force with honourable mention to Agit Kabayel who could yet force himself into a title fightPunch of the week: The right uppercut from Eduardo Ramirez that marked the beginning of the end for Bryan De Gracia was a beauty as was the Jhon Gemino left hook that ended the fight with Carlos Ornelas and the thunderous right from Richard Riakporhe that was the beginning of the end for Tommy McCarthyUpset of the week: Jonathan Eniz was not supposed to beat Deniz Ilbay and Jhon Gemino was supposed to lose to Carlos OrnelasProspect watch: Light Heavy Anthony Sims18-0 with 17 wins in a row by KO/TKO and Australian bantam Brock Jarvis 16-0 are both worth following.]]>Sat, 02 Mar 2019 10:24:25 GMThttp://www.asianboxing.info/features/snipes-and-snipes-28-february-2019By Eric Armit

I feltinstinctively that the four major sanctioning bodies were very successful companies when it came to growth. They are “companies”. Income and expenditure has to be controlled, employees have to be paid, business is conducted on an international basisand there is competition from the other sanctioning bodies. They are companies with just one major source of income and that is sanctioning fees for their title fights. When I was a lad there were only eight divisions(no I don’t remember bare knuckles and knee britches so don’t ask) and generally one universally recognised champion in each division with Ring Magazine the accepted gospel on who those champions were. The first big change came when a world-wide coalition of boxing movers and shakers became so angered at the machinations of the WBA that they met and supported the set up the WBC.After that with no improvement in the way the WBA conducted its affairs a break-away group set up the IBF and later another group of people and organisations dissatisfied with the WBA set up the WBO. Now we had four bodies who in order to survive had to take money out of the pockets of promoters and boxers so effectively out of boxing. These bodies quickly realised that sanctioning fees from world title fights alone was not enough for them to sustain or grow their organisations. Even increasing the number of weight divisions from eight eventually to seventeen was not enough so like any business that sees its single product (world titles) is not bringing in enough money you have to diversify (create more title). At one time you might have described the proliferation of titles as a cottage industry but it seemed to me it has developed from there into a production line with new titles manufactured with a frequency that Ford Motors might envy. But was my instinct right or my perception false? I decided to do a check as to whether the proliferation activities were as rampant as I thought they were.​At the high end of the market there are still world titles but they have not been spared proliferation. We now have Super titles, plain old World titles, Regular titles (and that is a misnomer if ever there was one) and Interim titles and some champions have been labelled Champion in Recess, Champion Emeritus. Whilst I can make some kind of weird sense about those Super etc. I have no idea what the WBC Diamond title is and the WBA have switched Arsen Goulamirian from interim champion to Gold champion whatever that means.

The IBF so far have stuck with one world champion and are to be congratulated for that so they have 17 titles, The WBA list Super, regular and Interim so if we ignore their Gold then they have 51 tiles, the WBC have World and Interim and if we ignore their Diamond they have 34 and the WBO also has World and Interim so another 34. We have gone from 8 world titles to 136 world titles. That’s proliferation.

Since their first title fight in 1983 there have been 1,312 fights with the IBF title involved. For the WBA, since the split off by the WBC in 1962 there have been 2049 fights involving a WBA world title. Since 1962 there have been 2003 fights involving the WBC title and since their birth in 1988 1,134 fights involving the WBO title although many of the fights above involved unification of the titles.

The real growth industry has been in the area of the various Regional titles such as Inter-Continental, Latino, Asia Pacific, WBO European (I differentiate from the EBU as their titles are nothing to do with the WBC), International, North American etc. The IBF has 14 titles of this nature, The WBA has 11, the WBC has 26 and the WBO has 15. With 17 divisions involved that means there are now 1,132 titles which did not exist until the sanctioning bodies set the production line going at full throttle and don’t even let me get started on the IBO, WBFederation, WBFoundation, Global Boxing Council, Global Boxing Union, Universal Boxing Federation etc. and for all of the above in theory you also have female titles!

If the above has done nothing for you then for me it tells me that my perception and reality are in agreement and if I am dumb enough to write another piece like this in a year’s time there will even more titles and title fights-it’s what growth industries do.

It’s a relief to see that the WBSS is still alive. The 27 April show featuring Regis Prograis vs. Kiryl Relikh in the super light semi-final and Nonito Donaire vs. Zolani Tete bantam semi-final has no venue yet but having a date is good news after all of the uncertainty. In the other semi-finals in Glasgow on 18 May both the Josh Taylor vs. Ivan Baranchyk IBF title fight and the Emmanuel Rodriguez vs. Naoya Inouebantam match(it can’t be a unification fight as Inoue only holds the secondary WBA title) are the sort of clashes that made the first WBSS such a success.

French heavyweight Tony Yoka is coming to the end of a one year suspension for dodging four tests. There are already names being put forward for him with former WBC title challenger Johann Duhaupas on the list but it looks as though that will not happen until later in the year.

Artur Beterbiev will defend his IBF light heavy title against Swede Sven Fornling in Stockton on 4 May. There had been talk of Beterbiev fighting on a show in Moscow in April sharing the top billing with Murat Gassiev who will by then have fully recovered from the shoulder injury that has kept him out of the ring since losing to Oleg Usyk in July.

Great show being put together for Inglewood on 26 April. WBC super fly champion Srisaket and Juan Francisco Estrada will clash again as Estrada seeks to get revenge for his loss to Srisaket in February 2018 and WBA super bantam champion Daniel Roman and IBF champion JT Doheny face each other in a unification match with Scott Quigg and Jesse Vargas also on the show.

According to some sources by beating Bermane Stiverne Joy Joyce won a WBA eliminator and could fight Manuel Charr for the secondary WBA title later this year. As Stiverne is a former world champion there was some interest in how Joyce would handle him but that the WBA saw a 40-year-old fat and out of condition Stiverne who had not fought for 15 months and seen less than three minute ring time in over three years as a suitable guy to fight in a world title eliminator is up to their usual standards. It seems that the mandated fight for Charr to defend against Fres Oquendo- who has not fought since July 2014-is no longer mandated. That’s good news for Joyce as he would start as favourite against Charr who last fought in November 2017. Charr was given a derisory six month ban after testing positive for two banned substances. Compare that to Tony Yoka who was banned for a year for avoiding tests so never tested positive with Charr who tested positive for two banned substances only banned for six months.

Filipino Donnie Nietes has his sights set on some attractive matches and obviously feels that he does not want anything to stand in the way of those hopes so has withdrawn from the purse bidding for a defence of his WBO flyweight title against Aston Palicte and has relinquished the title. It would be interesting to see Nietes fight IBF champion and fellow Filipino Jerwin Ancajas but Ancajas has agreed to defend his title against his mandatory challenger Ryuichi Funai.

Badou jack is staying in the boxing business. The former WBC super middle champion and holder of the secondary WBA light heavy title is setting up his own promoting company out in Dubai with 3 May the projected date for his first show.

Recent purses saw Leo Santa Cruz reportedly getting $1 million for fighting Rafael Rivera, Gervonta Davis collecting $1 million for his defence against Hugo Ruiz with Ruiz picking up $100,000. On the Santa Cruz undercard Omar Figueroa was paid $225, 000 and John Molina $200,000 for their fight and on the undercard to Davis vs. Ruiz Mario Barrios , Sharif Bogere and Ishe Smith received $75,000 each with Erickson Lubin paid $41,400 and Javier Fortuna $40,000. Good money but if it was doable Santa Cruz and Davis would be looking to more than double their payments. ]]>Tue, 26 Feb 2019 22:37:28 GMThttp://www.asianboxing.info/features/the-past-week-in-action-26-february-2019By Eric Armit

Highlights:-Chris Eubank Jr outpoints James DeGale in IBO super middle title fight-Anthony Dirrell gets technical verdict over Avni Yildirim for the vacant WBC super middle title-Humberto Soto gets upset victory over Brandon Rios-Lee Selby returns with a win but again suffers cuts-Joe Joyce halts Bermane Stiverne in six rounds-Blake Caparello, Tony Luis, Byron Rojas, Jamal James and Jeison Rosario get wins.WORLD TITLE/MAJOR SHOWSFebruary 23London, England: Super Middle: Chris Eubank Jr (28-2) W PTS 12 James DeGale (25-3-1). Light: Lee Selby (27-2) W PTS 12 Omar Douglas (19-3). Heavy: Joe Joyce (8-0) W TKO 6 Bermane Stiverne (25-4-1). Light Heavy: Andre Sterling (10-0) W PTS 10Ricky Summers (15-2). Super Feather: Anthony Cacace (17-1) W PTS 8 Alan Luques (26-8).DeGale vs. EubankEubank takes unanimous verdict over DeGale to win the vacant IBO titleRound 1A cautious round early as both pawed with their jab. DeGale was the more positive as the action warmed-up following his southpaw jabs with lefts. Eubank was looking to counter the advancing DeGale with rights but DeGale just did enough to take the round.Score: 10-9 DeGaleRound 2Eubank was firing rights in the second and connecting. He landed a couple which sent DeGale tumbling along the ropes to a corner and DeGale went down sitting on them lower ropes trying to get under the punches. He was up quickly and not seriously hurt. After the count Eubank pressed hard trying to land more big rights but DeGale boxed and held and was not troubled again in the round except for a clash of heads that saw him cut over his left eye.Score: 10-8 EubankEubank 19-18Round 3This was a close round with too many clinches. DeGale was throwing a couple of jabs and then darting inside and clinching. Eubank was looking to score with right hand counters but was having trouble timing DeGale’s diving attacks. Eubank landed a hard right and just had just the edge.Score: 10-9 EubankEubank 29-27Round 4A disappointing round. It was punch, clinch, punch, clinch all the way. DeGale scored with a couple of useful jabs but Eubank ended the round strongly forcing DeGale to the ropes and landing with rights.Score: 10-9 EubankEubank 39-36Round 5Eubank was on the front foot with DeGale circling and then diving in. At one point Eubank lifted DeGale and almost threw him over. DeGale was making no use at all of his jab and Eubank was stalking him and doing what clear scoring there was.Score: 10-9 EubankEubank 49-45Round 6DeGale had a better round. He was using his jab more and scoring from distance rather than diving in. Eubank continued to prowl after DeGale but did not land much.Score: 10-9 DeGaleEubank 58-55Round 7Pressure all the way from Eubank. DeGale was showing some nice defensive work but Eubank was the one landing punches as he fired home a series of hooks.Score: 10-9 EubankEubank 68-64Round 8Another round for Eubank. DeGale was just sticking out a jab and then diving inside and not working when he got there. Eubank chased in vain for much of the round but then drove DeGale across the ring with a series of punches.Score: 10-9 EubankEubank 78-73Round 9Eubank opened this round by scoring with a succession of jabs and hooks. DeGale connected with a couple of sharp hooks but as the round progressed Eubank was again the one landing as he had success with his hooksScore: 10-9 Eubank`Eubank 88-82Round 10DeGale scored first in this round with a couple of sharp punches but then went back to his punch and dive forward tactics, The fight was untidy with no sustained action. Eubank took over and drove forward. He staggered DeGale with a left hook and then drove DeGale across the ring raining punches with DeGale going down. DeGale was up straight away complaining he had been pushed down but was given a count and the bell went when the count was completed.Score: 10-8 EubankEubank 98-90Round 11The eleventh was another round with too many clinches. A frustrated Eubank lifted DeGale on his shoulder and threw him to the canvas and the referee deducted a point from Eubank. DeGale connected with a couple of lefts but Eubank stormed forward chasing a tired DeGale scoring with uppercuts and a left to the head to give him the round.Score (10-9 Eubank) with the deduction 9-9107-99Round 12Eubank stormed through the last round going forward throwing punches. DeGale countered when he could but over the closing seconds he was being forced to the ropes from hooks by Eubank.Score: 10-9 Eubank117-108Official Scores: 117-109, 115-112 and 114-112 all for EubankCommanding performance by Eubank perhaps his best as a pro. Where next is the question now so we have to wait and see. DeGale will be looking at his options but he has already had an outstanding career and retirement would be a smart decision.Selby vs. DouglasSelby outpoints a determined Douglas but again suffers badly from cuts. Douglas clearly thought this was a fight he could win and he made a strong start. Selby seemed to just take the first round but Douglas put himself in front by taking the second and third. To make things even worse for Selby a clash of heads in the second round saw him emerge with a cut over his right eye. He had been badly cut in losing his IBF title to Josh Warrington so it was a bad sign that he was cut so early and when a clash of heads in the third opened a cut over his left eye things looked bad for Selby. Undismayed Selby showed champions determination and used his customary speed and skill to get back into the fight and outboxed Douglas over the fourth and fifth. Douglas fought his way back into the fight with a strong sixth but then Selby took over again and with the cuts being held in check he took control and built a winning lead. Douglas put in a big effort in the twelfth but by then it was already Selby’s fight. Scores 116-112 twice and 115-113 all for Selby. The Welshman wins the IBF Inter-Continental title. Once the cuts heal he will be looking to work his way to a world title shot. Douglas’ progress was derailed by consecutive losses in fights against Javier Fortuna and Edner Cherry but he recorded a good win in August by decisioning 26-2-1 Haskell RhodesJoyce vs. StiverneJoyce stops a vastly overweight Stiverne. The key measure as to how hard a fight this would be for Joyce was Stiverne’s weight. Had he trained hard and would he be a real threat as Don King claimed or had his road work consisted of running to and from the nearest McDonald’s. He came in 20lbs heavier than when he fought both Derric Rossy in 2015 and Deontay Wilder in his last bout in November 2017 and right there you knew he was never going to pose a threat to Joyce. He would give the unbeaten fighter a few rounds against his most experienced opponent to date-but nothing more. Joyce bossed the opening round. He was using a strong jab and hooking to the body with Stiverne on the retreat, Stiverne found the target with some rights but Joyce took them well and continued to belabour Stiverne with lefts and right. Stiverne tried to come forward in the second and threw some rights. From the half way point it was one-sided with Joyce walking forward pounding Stiverne with lefts and rights hooks and uppercuts with very little coming back from Stiverne. A couple of left hooks and a right to the head floored Stiverne early in the third but he was up quickly and carried on. It really was just target practice for Joyce with only the occasional attempt at a counter from Stiverne who already looked exhausted. More punishment for Stiverne in the fourth. His only effort was the occasional wild swipe with his right. Joyce could not miss him with a jab and over the late part of the round was content to land a jab and then take a step back and then land another jab, It was that easy for him. Joyce pounded away at Stiverne in the fifth with Stiverne more of a pacifist than a pugilist and in the sixth with Joyce rocking Stiverne time and again with head punches the referee stopped the fight. It was so one-sided that it could have been stopped at any time from the third round onwards. Joyce retains the Commonwealth title and wins the WBA gold title although the status of the newly invented WBA title is obscure. The 6’6” Joyce has won all of his fights inside the distance and again he demonstrated his power particularly with his damaging jab. Going in he was rated No 5 by the WBA. There is talk that Joyce will fight Manuel Charr the holder of the WBA secondary title. It seems that the mandated fight between Charr and Fres Oquendo is no longer mandated which would conveniently open the door for Joyce to fight Charr. It was obvious Stiverne came for the money and his “effort” was pathetic. Joyce did his job but the fact that Stiverne is a former world champion does not change the fact that for this fight he was a flabby 40-year-old who had not fought for over 14 months and had spent less than one minute in the ring in over three years. Sterling vs. SummersSterling gets off the floor to outpoint Summers in British title eliminator. Summers just edged the first round and then floored Sterling with a right in the second. Sterling got up and survived and then dominated the fight. Summers was cut over his right eye in the third and Sterling swept that round and the next four. Summers rallied to take the eighth but Sterling took over again and won the ninth and tenth. Scores 97-92 twice and 97-93. Good win for the 28-year-old BBC of C Southern Area champion. Summers only previous loss was on points against Frank Buglioni for the British title in 20127 when coming in as a late substitute. Cacace vs. LuquesCacace returns with a win. The Belfast southpaw showed no early signs of ring rust as he was quicker and outworked Argentinian Luques. It was only very late in the fight as Cacace seemed to slow that Luques was competitive but Cacace was able to work his way to the end of the fight getting eight rounds of useful work on the ledger. Referee’s score 79-74 for Cacace. The Belfast man lost to Martin Joseph Ward for the British title in July 2017 and then had a fight in December 2017 so this is his first fight for 14 months. He will look to get some more rounds under his belt and then go again for a title. Luques is the South American champion. He was 7-1 before this fight with the loss being on points against Diego De La Hoya.Minneapolis, MN, USA: Super Middle: Anthony Dirrell (33-1-1) W TEC DEC 10 Avni Yildirim (21-2). Welter: Jamal James (25-1) W RTD 6 Janer Gonzalez (19-2-1). Middle:Jeison Rosario (18-1-1) W RTD 9 Mark Hernandez (13-3-1). Welter: Bryant Perrella (16-2) W PTS 8 Breidis Prescott (31-16). Heavy: Efetobor Apochi (7-0) W TKO 2 Ray Ochieng (26-23-3).Dirrell vs. YildirimDirrell wins the vacant WBC title with technical decision over Turkey’s Avni Yildirim in a total war.Round 1Yildirim made a strong start forcing Dirrell to the ropes with jabs and landing clubbing rights. Dirrell was on the back foot using his longer reach to spear Yildirim with jabs and slipping home left hooks and uppercuts. A flurry of punches from Yildirim got through and that sparked Dirrell into forcing Yildirim back with a couple of head-snapping uppercuts and then Dirrell used his jab to take the roundScore: 10-9 DirrellRound 2An already entertaining fight was even more entertaining in the second as they stood and traded jabs, hooks and uppercuts. Yildirim forced Dirrell to the ropes and again both fired fast accurate shots. Yildirim worked strongly with his jabs and lefts to the body and although Dirrell landed a sharp uppercut it was Yildirim’s round.Score: 10-9 YildirimTied 19-19Round 3After a quiet start to the round Yildirim piled on the pressure coming in behind a strong jab and lading overhand nights and lefts to the body. Dirrell was scoring with accurate counters and quick bursts of punches and scored with a long heavy right to the head to take a very close roundScore: 10-9 DirrellDirrell 29-28Round 4It was war again as Yildirim kept Dirrell on the ropes for the whole three minutes. Dirrell was landing some scorching counters inside but Yildirim kept working banging lefts to the body and rights to the head to take the round.Score: 10-9 YildirimTied 38-38Round 5Dirrell boxed more in this one. He was still circling the perimeter of the ring with Yildirim walking him down but he was slotting punches trough Yildirim’s guard and when they did start to trade heavy stuff again Dirrell was just that bit more accurate.Score: 10-9 DirrellDirrell 48-47Round 6Dirrell raked the advancing Yildirim with hooks and uppercuts at the start of the round. Yildirim did better when he closed then distance and connected with clubbing lefts and rights. Dirrell was straying low with some of his hooks and Yildirim just did enough to take the round.Score 10-9 YildirimTied 57-57Round 7Best round so far for Dirrell. He stayed off the ropes and the speed and accuracy of his punches had Yildirim backing up. Inside Dirrell was landing wicked right hooks and cracking uppercuts but a clash of heads opened a cut over the left eye of Dirrell.Score: 10-9 DirrellDirrell 67-66Round 8Three minutes of pressure from Yildirim. It was close work all the way. Dirrell scored with sharp accurate and a few low punches but Yildirim kept pressing and landed a series of hard thudding head punches from both hands. Dirrell’s cut was worsening and Yildirim was cut on his nose.Score: 10-9 YildirimTied 76-76Round 9Dirrell looked to be tiring but Yildrim did not. He kept piling forward pushing out his punches with Dirrell throwing less and holding more. Dirrell was given another warning for a low punch and was under pressure at the bell. Score: 10-9 YildirimYildirim 86-85Round 10Dirrell danced and boxed his way in this one. He was not looking to trade but instead speared Yildirim from distance. When Yildirim rushed forward head down Dirrell side-stepped and mimicked being a matador to Yildirim’s bull. With a minute to go in the round the referee stopped the action to let the doctor examine Dirrell's cut and the doctor recommended the fight be stopped. Yildirim climbed on the ropes to celebrate his victory only to be told it would be decided on the scorecards with the tenth round being scored.Score: 10-9 DirrellTied 95-95Official Scores: 96-94 twice for Dirrell and 98-92 for Yildirim.The 24-year-old “Dog” becomes WBC champion for the second time. When he held the title previously he lost it in his first defence against Badou Jack but he will be aiming to keep the title a bit longer this time. I guess Dirrell’s dream fight would be against Saul Alvarez-dream on Anthony. Yildirim showed considerable improvement from his losing effort against Chris Eubank Jr in an IBO title fight in 2017 and he looked to be the stronger man when this one was stopped so his team will push for a rematch.James vs. GonzalezFighting in front of his home fans James gets inside the distance win and hopes to get into the welter mix and a place at the top table. Plenty of action in this one. James had a good opening round forcing Gonzalez onto the back foot and scoring to the body. The second was close with Gonzalez connecting with stiff jabs and a cut was opened under James’ right eye. With Jones being 6’2” Gonzalez had to push forward and he had some success to the body in the third with James countering well. In the fourth and the fifth James had the better of the exchanges particularly with long rights. Gonzalez was down early in the sixth but it was due to their legs getting in a tangle and there was no count. Later in the round a right from James floored Gonzalez heavily. He beat the count and survived the remaining seconds but did not come out for the seventh round. Now 13 wins by KO/TKO for James. After a run of good wins James lost a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas in 2016. He has rebuilt well with six wins including victories over Ionut Dan Ion, Diego Chaves and Abel Ramos and is No 3 with the WBA. Colombian Gonzalez was 19-0-1 against very modest opposition but after losing in his last fight against Russian Radzhab Butaev in November 2017 that is two defeats in a row.Rosario vs. Hernandez When these two clashed a year ago it was over six rounds and ended in a split draw. This time Dominican Rosario made sure the judges were not needed. The fight was close to the end with Rosario’s power the deciding factor. After a close first round they began to trade heavy punches in the second with Hernandez doing most of the scoring. A low punch in the third saw Hernandez get some recovery time and Rosario get a warning. The action continued hot over the next four rounds and it was hard to split them. Rosario’s heavier punch saw Hernandez under pressure in the eighth. Rosario was dominating the ninth and floored Hernandez with a powerful left hook. Hernandez made it to his feet but a fierce attack from Rosario saw the referee step in and stop the fight. The 23-year-old Rosario suffered his only defeat when he was floored three times and stopped by Nathaniel Gallimore in 2017. He has rebounded in style with victories over Justin DeLoach and Jamontay Clark and is rated 11(10) by the IBF. Fresno’s “Madman” Hernandez was 4-0-1 in his last 5 fights.Perrella vs. PrescottTall Floridian southpaw Perrella gets back into action with unanimous decision over regular loser Prescott. Scores 79-73 twice and 78-74. After defeat by Yordenis Ugas in September 2016 Perrella did not fight again until December 2017. In his sole fight last year he took a big step up by facing Luis Collazo but lost on a majority verdict. This is his first fight since that August loss and hopefully he will be more active. Prescott has now won only one of his last nine fights so looks a reliable loser.Apochi vs. OchiengNigerian Apochi blows away another opponent as he makes progress under the radar. His second round stoppage of Kenyan Ochieng makes it seven inside the distance wins in seven outings all scored inside three rounds. At 5’11” and just over 200lbs the cruisers are where he should fight. The Houston-based 31-year-old is a former Captain of the Nigerian boxing team. He was twice runner-up at the All-African Championships and beat world rated Jai Opetaia at the 2014 Commonwealth Games on his way to a bronze medal. He also fought at the World Championships and was a member of the Mexican Guerreros team in the World Series of Boxing. At 31 time is not in his corner and he needs to face much better opposition before any judgment can be made on how far he can go. Ochieng, 42, suffers his sixth loss in a row.February 22Melbourne, Australia: Light Heavy: Blake Caparello (29-3-1) W PTS 10 Reagan Dessaix (16-2). Super Welter: Joel Camilleri (17-5-1) W RTD5 Billy Limov (4-1-1).Caparello vs. DessaixCaparello wins close unanimous decision over younger Dessaix. Caparello took the fight to Dessaix in the opening round getting past the guard of the 6’3” from Brisbane. Dessaix had a better second as he started to settle into the fight but Caparello was finding the range with his southpaw lefts in the third. Dessaix swung the fight back his way with a good fourth and finished the fifth with a strong attack. Dessaix looked to have outworked Caparello in the sixth. The seventh was a close round but Dessaix appeared to have done enough to take the eighth, After that Dessaix, who had not gone ten rounds before, seemed to tire allowing Caparello to edge in front but it was very close. Score 97-93 twice and 96-94 all for Caparello. He lifts Dessaix’s WBA Oceania title but for the Australian No 1 the win was everything as a loss here would have probably signalled theend of the 32-yerar-old former WBO title challenger’s hopes of any more big fights. Dessaix, 22, will recover quickly from this and looks a very good bet forthefutureCamilleri vs. LimovCamilleri lifts thevacant Australian title with victory over novice Limov. Camilleri put Limov down in the first and Limovonlyjust made it tothe bell. Camilleri continued to connect with heavy punches in the second, third and fourth with Limov taking the punishment and trying to fight back. Camilleri floored Limov again in the fifth and at the end of the round Limov’s team pulled him out of the fight. Camilleri goes to 8-1-1 in his last 10 fights and has eight wins by KO/TKO. New Zealand-born Queensland State champion Limov never really got into the fight after the first round knockdown.Budakalasz, Hungary: Cruiser: Imre Szello (23-0) W KO 2 Denis Simcic (32-4-1). Super Welter: Roman Zakirov (9-0) W PTS 10 Daniel Vega Cota (13-3-1). Super Middle: Mate Kiss (14-0-2 ) W KO 2 Hussein Itaba (5-3-2). Light Heavy: Oscar Ahlin (17-2) W TKO 4 Beka Mukhulishvili (6-5).Szello vs. Simcic In the first show of the year in Hungary Szello brushes aside an out of condition Simcic inside two rounds. Szello was looking to end this early and handled Simcic’s attempts to attack easily and then put Simcic down and out just a few seconds before the bell at the end of the second round. The 35-year-old “Imo” hasscoredsix inside the distance wins in his last seven fights and despite never facing a rated opponent is No 2 with the WBO. Szello was a great amateur but to put him above fighters such Murat Gassiev, Mairis Breidis, Yuniel Dorticos and Andrew Tabiti is ridiculous- but then the WBO No 1 is 48-year-old Firat Arslan! Szello is No 12 in the EBU ratings. Slovenian Simcic, 37, had just one fight in 2015, one in 2016 was inactive in 2017 and had just one fight in 2018 beating a guy with 86 losses so no risk being taken here.Zakirov vs. CotaRussian boxer Zakirov wins the vacant IBO International title with unanimous verdict over southpaw Cota. This was an entertaining fight and although Zakirov was stronger, more accurate in his work and a clear winner Cota was always competitive until he tired but always second best. Scores 99-91 twice and 98-92 for Zakirov. First ten round fight and first title for the Azeri-based 22-year-old. Mexican Cota was having his first fight outside Mexico and also his first ten rounder.Kiss vs. ItabaKiss dismantles Tanzanian novice Itaba in two rounds. Kiss was able to walk though the 6’1” Itaba and he floored the African late in the first before putting him down and out half way through the second. The 25-year-old Hungarian has ten wins by KO/TKO but this was an abysmal mismatch. Third loss by KO/TKO for poor ItabaAhlin vs. MukhulishviliSwedish “Golden Boy”Ahlingets his fourth win on the bounce by KO/TKO with stoppage of Georgian Mukhulishvili. Unexpected losses to Bernard Donfack and Patrick Mendy have taken the shine off the “Golden Boy” image but he is trying to regroup. Fourth loss in a row for Mukhulishvili and his first inside the distance defeat.Ekaterinburg, Russia: Light: Zaur Abdullaev (11-0) W TKO 10 Humberto Martinez (33-9-2). Heavy: Evgeny Romanov (12-0) W KO 1 Dillon Carman (14-4). Super Feather: Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov (13-0) W PTS 10 Emanuel Lopez (29-10-1). Super Welter: Magomed Kurbanov (17-0) W PTS 10 Damian Bonelli (23-6).Cruiser: Evgeny Tischenko (4-0) W PTS 8 Jose Ulrich (17-3,1ND).Abdullaev vs. MartinezAbdullaev gets late stoppage win against Martinez. Abdullaev was tracking the smaller Martinez around the ring in the first and put the Colombian down with a left hook to the body. Martinez madeit to his feet just as the bell went. Abdullaevhas an unusualhumped style and is not a fast mover but has quick hands and good power. He continued stalking Martinez throughout the fight and did a good job of cutting the ring down and landed some hard straight rights. Martinez kept moving and was most effective when diving forward with hooks to the body. Abdullaev came close to finishing Martinez when he floored him with double left hooks in the fourth and then rocked him with a big combination later in the round. Over the second half of the fight Martinez stood and traded. Abdullaev was scoring with stiff jabs and long rights but Martinez took the punches and kept firing hooks. They stood toe-to-toe late in the seventh just punching away but Martinez had to absorb lots of punishment in the eighth and ninth. The exchanges were fairly even in the tenth until a series of uppercuts had Martinez shaky and a big right put him down. He beat the count and as Abdullaev bombarded him with punches Martinez looked shaky but just as he was punching back the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. The 24-year-old Russian scored a good win in outpointing Hank Lundy and this is his seventh win by KO/TKO. Martinez was 6-0-1 in his last 7 but against substandard opponents.Romanov vs. CarmanRomanov flattens “Big Country Carman in just 110 seconds.The 6’5” Carman towered over 6-0” tall Romanov but was forced to the ropes by rights to the head. He moved forward off the ropes but Romanov drove him back and then connected with a right and a left hook and Carman dropped to the floor on his hands and knees and was counted out. The 33-year-old Romanov gets his fifth inside the distance win in a row. In the amateurs after settling for three silver medals in consecutive Russian Championships he finally won the national title in 2009. In the third round of a Russia vs. USA meeting in February 2008 he landed a big right which saw Deontay Wilder staggering badly forcing an eight count and then floored Wilder with another right. Wilder made it to his feet but was unsteady and the fight wasstopped. That was a powerful Russian team with Artur Beterbiev and Sergey Kovalev both fighting at 81kgs and Rakhim Chakhkiev at 91kgs. Not surprisingly Russia won the match 8-2. Romanov was consistently by-passed for the big International Tournaments so retired from boxing in 2010 to work in local sports administration but returned to boxing in 2016 and turned professional. Former Canadian champion Carman scored a big domestic win last October when he knocked out unbeaten Simon Kean. All four of his losses have come inside the distance.Yaqubov vs. LopezYaqubov outboxes Mexican Lopez in a fast-paced bout. The Tajik southpaw was quicker and more mobile than Lopez and was already finding the target with straight lefts in the first round. Lopezwas looking to draw Yaqubov’s lead and counter but he waswaitingtoo long. Yaqubov continued to find the range with his lefts and worked the body well. Lopez was plodding forward but Yaqubov was too quick, too slick and too accurate for the visitor. He was rattling off combinations and moving too quickly for Lopez to counter. Lopez had some success coming forward in the fifth but as the fight progressedYaqubov was beginning toputtogether precise and accurate five/six punch combinations and was outclassing the experienced Lopez.Yaqubov slowed a bit in the eighth and ninth but was still moving changing angles and doing the scoring speeding around Lopez bombarding him with rapid-fire fists in the last. Scores 100-90 for Yaqubov from the three judges. He was making the first defence of his WBC International title. Still only 23 he has tremendous skill, quick feet and flashing hands and outclassed the former interim WBA super feather champion. He looks certain to break into the world ratings this year. Lopez looked shop-worn and is now 2-4 in his last six fights. Kurbanov vs. BonelliKurbanov just had too much power for Bonelli. He scored a first round knockdown and pressed hard all the way. Bonelli found plenty of gaps for counters but he is not enough of a puncher to threaten Kurbanov. A left hook in the third had Bonelli hurt and the Argentinian was spending more and more time covering up on the ropes. Bonelli had a good sixth forcing Kurbanov back with quick attacks but was rocked by a right in the seventh. Bonelli’s holding and ducking tactics saw a frustrated Kurbanov throw the Argentinian to the canvas twice in the eighth. A series of head punches floored Bonelli just before the bell in the ninth and he was down again in the tenth but lasted the full distance. There is nothing pretty about the style of the Russian “Black Lion” the 23-year-old Kurbanov is powerful, he loads up on every punch and leaves big gaps in his defence. It has worked for him against some good level opposition but his No 3 rating with the IBF is difficult to defend. Bonelli, 40, did well to get off the floor a few times and last the full ten rounds but he has now lost five in a row.Tischenko vs. UlrichFormer amateur star Tischenko gets some rounds under his belt as he wins every round against Argentinian Ulrich. With Tischenko at 6’5” and Ulrich at 5’11” it was not much of a spectacle and Tischenko disappointed in not ending this early and had to settle for dominating every round. The 27-yerar-old Russiansouthpaw swept the board as an amateur winning gold at the Olympics, World Championships, EuropeanChampionships, European Under 23, European Youth and Russian Championships.Ulrich, the Argentinian No 6 lost on a split decision for the national title in May but that is now three losses in a row for him.Cape Town, South Africa: Feather: Thembani Mbangatha (10-0) W PTS 10 Doctor Ntsele (22-12-1).A gutsy Mbangatha overcomes injury to outpoint experienced Ntsele and retain his WBFederation African title. The local fighter was boxing well behind his jab and looked on the way to a comfortable victory until he dislocated his shoulder. That stirred Ntsele into upping his pace and he made some inroads into Mbangatha’s lead but not enough to turn the fighthis way. Scores 97-93 twice and 99-91 for “Baby Jake” Mbangatha. This is the second time the South African No 6 Mbangatha has suffered a dislocation of this shoulder in a fight. Former South African flyweight champion Ntsele has also fought for titles at bantam and super bantam and in his last fight before this one he was just inside the super feather limit.London, England: Welter:Freddy Kiwitt (15-2) W PTS 10 Paddy Gallagher (15-5).In a close entertaining fight two knockdowns prove to be the deciding factor in Kiwitt’s majority decision win over Belfast’s Gallagher. The pattern of the fight saw Gallagher taking the fight to Kiwitt with the Liberian-born fighter boxing and countering. The roundswereclose but just as Gallagher looked to be taking control in the fifth he was knocked down. The Belfast fighter battled back over the sixth and seventh and looked tohave clawed back the 10-8 fifth round. He was forcing the fight in the eighth but Kiwitt was boxing well and the fight seemed to be put out of Gallagher’s reach when he suffered a flash knockdown late in the round. Gallagher stormed forward in the ninth and tenth but Kiwitt stayed strong and countered well but it was close. Scores 96-94 and 95-93 for Kiwitt and 95-95. British-based Kiwitt wins the vacant WBO European title. His two losses have been to unbeaten fighters and he has wonhislast three fights. Gallagher had won 5 of his last 6 fights with the loss being a split decision against Brad Solomon in April last year in the WBC welterweight tournament that seems to have vanished without trace. Kissimmee, FL, USA: Super Light: Yomar Alamo (16-0) W PTS 10 Manuel Mendez (16-5-3). Middle: Carlos Monroe (12-0) W TKO 1 Jonathan Tavira (17-7). Bantam: Antonio Vargas (10-0) W TKO 2 Lucas Baez (34-18-5).Alamo vs. MendezPuerto Rican Alamo boxes his way to wide unanimous verdict over Mendez. Alamo won this one on the back foot. Mendez marched forward behind a high guard looking to hook to the body. Alamo stuck to the perimeter of the ring constantly moving. He speared the advancing Mendez with jabs and connected with hooks and uppercuts and moved again before Mendez could land anything. Alamo rocked Mendez with a right in the second but could not capitalise on that. A frustrated Mendez was throwing wild shots with Alamo having no trouble dodging them and making Mendez pay with counters. Mendez pressed all the way but never came close to catching Alamo with a punch of consequence as Alamo cruised to victory. Scores 99-91 twice and 100-90 for Alamo who wins the vacant WBO NABO title. Third defeat in a row for Mendez.Monroe vs. TaviroMonroe dismantles Travis inside a round. This one lasted just 91 seconds and gives 24-year-old Monroe his ninth win by KO/TKO Mexican southpaw Taviro suffers his third inside the distance defeat in a row against unbeaten opposition with combined records of 47-0.Vargas vs. BaezVargas blows away Argentinian Baez inside two rounds. The former Olympian was much too good for Baez. Vargas put Baez down forthe first time with a precise right uppercut and the second knockdown came as Vargas took a step back to dodge a couple of jabs from Baez and threw a straight right to the chin that floored Baez. He made it to his feet but wobbled and the referee stopped the fight. The 22-year-old Vargas, born in Houston of mixed Puerto Rican and Mexican heritage, gets his fourth win by KO/TKO. In 2015 he was voted US Elite Male Boxer of the Year after winning the US National championships, the National Golden Gloves and a gold medal at the Pan American Games but did not medal at the 2016 Olympics. Florida-based Baez drops to nine losses by KO/TKO.Huntington, NY, USA: Cruiser: Joel Tambwe Djeko (15-2-1) W PTS 10 Simone Federici (14-2-1)Belgian “Big Joe” Djeko wins decision over Italian Federici. With “Big Joe” being just that the tactics were easy to predict. Federici had to pile forward usually leading with a right aiming for Djeko’s head but too often falling short of the towering Djeko’s chin. When he did get inside Federici pumped away with hooks and uppercuts. Djeko did not want to fight inside so was holding and smothering Federici’s attacks. At distance Djeko was scoring with strong jabs and punishing hooks and was a good winner. Scores 97-93 twice and 99-91 for Djeko who gets his sixth win on the trot. Former undefeated Italian champion “Tyson” Federici was 7-0-1 going into this one.February 23Tijuana, Mexico: Welter: Humberto Soto (69-9-2,1ND) W PTS 12 Brandon Rios (35-5-1). Bantam: Joel Cordova (8-4-2) W PTS 10 Jose Quirino (20-3-3). Light: Hector Tanajara (17-0) W TEC DEC 4 Ivan Delgado (13-2-2). Fly: Joselito Velasquez (8-0) W TKO 7 Kevin Villanueva (10-2-3). Middle: Diego Pacheco (2-0) W PTS 4 Alberto AguilarSoto vs. Rios Soto gives Rios a boxing lesson on the way to a convincing victory. Brilliant start by Soto. Rios was moving forward with jabs and hooks. Soto kept moving around Rios and then scoring with blazing combinations with fists too quick for Rios to block. Rios continued to force the fight looking to trap Soto on the ropes and work him over with hooks and uppercuts. Sometimes that worked but Rios was wide open and Soto was able to land heavily as Rios walked in. Even when Rios managed to take Soto to the ropes Soto would twist away and put Rios on the ropes and then rake Rios with a bunch of rapid combinations. Rios only had one pace and one plan so he kept rumbling onto Soto’s punches aiming to get close enough to do some work of his own but Soto was only staying still long enough to rattle Rios with his punches and then moving leaving Rios to follow behind. Rios had some success over the second half of the fight as the pace caught up with the 38-year-old Soto but he was never able to pin Soto down long enough to get any sort of toe-hold in the fight and was out punched and outclassed by Soto. Scores 118-112 twice and 119-111 all for Soto. The former WBC super feather and light champion was considered to be semi-retired as he was inactive in 2017 and had not impressed in victories over two modest level fighters in 2018. He was tactically brilliant here so that may have given him the desire to try for one more title fight. Even if that does not happen he has had the pleasure of knowing that in beating Rios he is the first Mexican born fighter to defeat Rios after Rios had beaten all fifteen he had faced previously. Rios, 32, a former holder of the secondary WBA lightweight title, had a mixed 2018 being stopped in nine rounds by Danny Garcia but stopping Ramon Alvarez in November. No indication that he will do anything but continue his career but he was given a boxing lesson here.Cordova vs. Quirino Minor upset as Cordova outpoints local favourite Quirino. These two had fought to a split draw in December and this one was also close with Cordova getting the split decision. This one was every bit as tight as after the early rounds went to southpaw Quirino Cordova dominated the middle rounds. Cordova forced the fight hard. Quirino was finding himself pinned to the ropes and was bleeding from nose and mouth from Cordova’s punches. Quirino tried to pull the fight his way late but just came up short. Scores 97-93 twice for Cordova and 96-94 for Quirino. Cordova fought above expectations and is now 2-0-2 in his last 4 fights. Quirino was unbeaten in his last 17 contests.Tanajara vs. DelgadoIn a fight shortened due to a cut received by Tanajara he took the verdict on a technical decision. Tanajara dominated the first round with his jab. He used his longer reach to score and countered Delgado’s advances with straight rights. In the second Tanajara stuck to the same tactics with Delgado forcing harder and occasionally getting inside. In the third a clash of heads saw Tanajara suffer a cut over his right eye. Delgado was getting into the fight more but Tanajara finished the round strongly. Tanajara kept the jab working in the fourth but his cut was ugly and worsening and at the end of the round the doctor recommended the fight be stopped so it was decided on the score cards. Scores 40-36 from the three judges for Tanajara. The unbeaten 22-year-old Texan wins the WBC United States title. He was coming off a career best win in December when he outpointed 36-2 Robert Manzanarez. Californian Delgado was 2-0-1 in his last three contests. Velasquez vs. VillanuevaOlympian Velasquez gets another inside the distance victory as he halts Villanueva in the fifth round. Velasquez bombarded Villanueva with hooks and uppercuts from the outset. He floored Villanueva in the third and had him in deep trouble in the fifth when the referee halted the fight. Now seven wins by KO/TKO for the 25-year-old “Hurricane” who won gold medals at the Pan American Games in 2011 and 2015 and competed at the 2016 Olympics. Villanueva, 18, was 8-0-1 going into this one bur gets his first inside the distance loss.Pacheco vs. AguilarA long way down the card and only a four round fight so why bother? Well Pacheco, who won 40-36 on the three cards, may be one for the future. Still just 17 the 6’4” Pacheco was a Silver Gloves National champion, USA Boxing Junior Open champion and has signed up with Matchroom.Alvarez, Argentina: Welter: Gustavo Vittori (22-4-1) W PTS 10 Walter Castillo (13-3).Vittori collects the vacant WBC Latino Silver title with decision over Castillo. This was a fast-paced fight with “Little Dog” Vittorio the clear winner. These two went at it from the first bell, withnotime spent studying their opponent. It became apparent quickly that southpaw Vittorio had the harder punch and better defence. Castillo had the edge in reach but that was never a factor and although he never backed away from the exchanges he lacked the power to hurt Vittorio-with his fists anyway. Castillo was warned abouthis bulling forward head first. He was deducted a point and it was Castillo himself who was cut in the clashes and ended a loser. Scores 100-89 for Vittorio from the judges. Vittorio was beaten inside the distance by Alex Saucedo and Mikkel LesPierre in the USA but since returning home has now scored two wins. Castillo also lost in an away fight lasting less than around against Josh Kelly in Manchester in November.Cornwall, Canada: Light: Tony Luis (27-3) W TKO 8 Juan Jose Martinez (26-8).Fighting in his home town Luis gets a stoppage win over a sliding Martinez. Luis outboxed and outscored Martinez until the referee had seen enough and stopped the uneven contest in the eighth of a ten round fight. The 31-year-old “Lightning” registered win No 8 since coming in as a late substitute and losing on points against Derry Mathews for the interim WBA title in 2015. Despite the run of wins Luis is unrated so may have to step up the quality of his opposition. Mexican Martinez was 19-1 when he started out but has won only one of his last seven fights but with Felix Verdejo, Alberto Machado and Andres Gutierrez in the list of his opponents he has had a tough ride.Accra, Ghana: Light: Emmanuel Tagoe (30-1) W PTS 12 Vyacheslav Gusev (25-6). Super Middle: Bastie Samir (16-0-1) W Raoul Lokossou (0-2).Tagoe vs. GusevHaving relinquished his IBO title Tagoe starts his search for another title with a win over Gusev. The little Russian made a busy start throwing plenty of jabs but he was mostly short with his punches against the longer reach of Tagoe. The local fighter was sharp with his jab and it was the controlling punch in the fight. Gusev continually took the fight to Tagoe but if he did get past the jab then excellent if flashy defensive work from Tagoe blunted the Russian's attacks and Gusev lacked the power to hurt Tagoe. A quick right in the third knocked Gusev off balance and his gloves touched the canvas and he was given a count. Tagoe connected with some hard rights and left hooks trying to end the fight but Gusev was fighting back by the bell. Tagoe had too much speed, skill and reach for Gusev and for much of the fightwas content to put on a show rather than press his attacks. Gusev never stopped tryingto come forwardbut was outclassed. Scores 120-107, 119-108 and 118-109 all for Tagoe. The 30-yerar-old former undefeated IBO champion wins the vacant IBF International title and will now campaign in the USA under Lou Dibella’s banner. Tagoe has wins over former champions Mzonke Fana and Paulus Moses. He lost his first pro fight so has now won 30 in a row. Gusev did his best and keeps his record of never losing by KO/TKO.Samir vs. LokossouThis was a disgrace to boxing. Samir is a good quality boxer with a punch and he was matched against a man who’s only recorded fight was an inside the distance loss in 2004! Lokossou had only the most basic of techniques and every time he threw a punch he threw his whole body into it and when he missed he had thrown himself so far around he was facing the crowd. He tried to bundle Samir to the ropes but had no idea of what to do when he got there. Samir wasthrowingpunchesto the body and Lokossou took them. In the second round Lokossou was sent sprawling onto the canvas by a punch. After the count Samir threw a series of punches with a brutal left hook that crashed onto Lokossou’s chin and sent him flying down with his head crashing on the canvas. The referee immediately waived the fight off and a motionless Lokossou was on the floor for almost five minutes. Samir, who turned pro in the USA gets his sixteenth win by KO/TKO. This is his first fight since stopping unbeaten Briamah Kamoko in October 2017.Managua, Nicaragua: Minimumweight: Byron Rojas (26-4-3,1ND) W PTS 8 Byron Castellon (13-13-3,1ND).This was supposed to be a routine eight round win over a very modest fellow Nicaraguan. Castellon had already lost twice to Rojas but the last was a majoritydecision in 2017 so never accepted the loser’s role. He constantly took the fight to Rojas forcing Rojas out of his comfort zone and making him fight harder than he expected. Rojas won the rounds but he had to fight hard to do so. Castellon and his supporters thought he had done enough to win but the judges were split and two of the three gave it to Rojas 79-73, which seemed unkind to the efforts of Castellon, and the third saw Castellon winning 77-75. This was the first fight for the former WBA minimumweight champion since losing a close decision to Knockout CP Freshmart (Thammanoon Niyomtrong) in November. Castellon had won his last two fights.Fight of the week (Significance): Chris Eubank’s win over James DeGale raises the prospect of some interesting fights at super middle Fight of the week (Entertainment) Anthony Dirrell vs. Avni Yildirim was a tough, brutal matchFighter of the week: Chris Eubank JrPunch of the week: The right from Antonio Vargas that ended his fight with Lucas Baez was a peach.Upset of the week: Humberto Soto was expected to be too old and too small to beat Brandon Rios but he proved everyone wrongProspect watch: Russian Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov 14-o showed class in beating former WBA interim champion Emanuel Lopez]]>Wed, 20 Feb 2019 14:49:09 GMThttp://www.asianboxing.info/features/5-more-talented-asian-amateursBy Marcus Bellinger (@marcusknockout)​In the last part of this mini-series we take a look at 5 more notable amateurs from the Asian continent who have achieved success for their respective nations.Erdenbaat Tsendbaatar, Mongolia, bantamweight (56kg).For a country with a population of around just 3 million, Mongolia regularly more than holds its own at major tournaments and produces excellent fighters who fight with pride, skill and determination. The country’s young boxing star is undoubtedly Tsendbaatar who enjoyed a golden 2018, triumphing at the Asian Games in Indonesia. Now campaigning at lightweight, Tsendbaatar reached the last 8 of the Rio Olympics, going out to eventual silver medallist Shakur Stevenson down at bantamweight. The 21-year-old has ruled the roost at home, claiming 4 national titles and also a Bronze at the 2014 Asian Youth Championships. Tsendbaatar will be one of the favourites for the upcoming Asian Championships in Thailand and if boxing does take place at the Tokyo Olympics then he’s more than in the frame for a medal. You can view Tsendbaatar’s winning effort at the 2018 Asian Games below.

Chinzorig Battarsukh, Mongolia, light welterweight (64kg).Battarsukh possesses copious amounts of experience but has been a bit of a nearly man and has lost a number of very close decisions. The 27-year-old is a 5-time national champion and after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2014 Asian Games, he managed to reach the podium 4 years later taking Silver. Battarsukh grabbed silver at the 2017 Asian Championships in Tashkent but was highly unlucky to lose to home man Ikboljon Kholdarov in the final and later on that year he narrowly missed out on a world championship medal, losing in the last 8. Battarsukh is a tough out for anyone in his division apart from probably the formidable Cuban Andy Cruz and with a little bit of luck an Olympic medal isn’t out of the question.Battarsukh’s contest in the 2018 Asian Games final can be seen below

Carlo Paalam, Philippines, light flyweight (49kg).Despite the limited resources at their disposal the Philippines isn’t lacking in talented pugilists with Paalam being one of a number of gifted Pinoys in the amateur ranks. A successful stint at youth level saw him take Bronze at both the Asian and world Championships in 2016. He was on the wrong end of an awful hometown decision in the quarter-finals at the 2017 South East Asian Games in Malaysia but bounced back to take Bronze at the 2018 Asian Games, losing to gold medallist Amit in the semi-final. Paalam is still young therefore, there is plenty of room for growth and he is defitely capable of achieving success at future events. Some footage of Paalam sparring can be viewed below.

Christian Pitt Laurente, Philippines (56kg).Laurente is yet to make his senior debut at a major tournament but the future looks bright for him judging by his performances at youth level. His first success came at the South East Asian Youth Games in 2017 as he took lightweight Bronze, being defeated by top operator Atichai Phoemsap. A move down to bantamweight saw him win silver followed by Bronze and the Asian and world Youth Championships respectively with elite Uzbek Abdumalik Khalokov victorious over him on both occasions. Laurente is clearly one for the future and you can watch him in action versus Khalokov

Kim Ink-Yu, South Korea, flyweight (52kg).Korean boxing both sides of the border has been in the doldrums for well over a decade but there have been small signs of recovery especially in the amateur ranks in recent times. The most consistent performer has been South Korea’sKim Ink-yu who came away from the 2017 world Championships with Bronze after winning silver at the Asian equivalent earlier on in the year. The world Bronze bettered his quarter-final appearance in the previous edition and he is capable of being in the mix for medals in future major competitions. Below is a bout involving Kim up against Uzbekistan’s Jasurbek Latipov.

Highlights:-Rob Brant retains secondary WBA middleweight title with late stoppage of Khasan Baysangurov-South African DeeJay Kriel halts Carlos Licona in the last round to win the IBF light flyweight title-Ryosuke Iwasa wins technical decision over Cesar Juarez in IBF bantamweight final eliminator-Yves Ngabu and Francesco Patera retain their European cruiserweight and lightweight titles in action on separate shows in Belgium -German prospect Abass Baraou wins the WBC International super welter title with victory over former IBF champion Carlos Molina-Former WBC lightweight champion Omar Figueroa outpoints John Molina in a war-Thomas Patrick Ward wins in his first fight in the USAWORLD TITLE SHOWSFebruary 15Hinckley, MN, USA: Middle: Rob Brant (25-1) W TKO 11 Khasan Baysangurov (17-1). Bantam: Joshua Greer (20-1-1) W KO 8 Giovanni Escaner (19-4). Super Middle: Lennox Allen (22-0-1) W PTS 10 Derrick Webster (28-2). Light Heavy: Steven Nelson (13-0) W PTS 6 Felipe Romero (20-17-1). Light: Ismail Muwendo (21-1) W PTS 6 Hevinson Herrera (24-16-1). Middle: Tyler Howard (17-0) W PTS 8 Cristian Olivas (16-4).Brant vs. BaysangurovFighting in front of his home fans for the first time as champion Brant scores late stoppage of Baysangurov in defence of his secondary WBVA title.Round 1Brant went to work immediately flying out of his corner throwing left jabs and straight rights to the head. He continued to advance now adding body punches. Brant was scoring repeatedly with lead rights and only late in the round did Baysangurov try to find the distance with his jab-and failed.Score: 10-9 BrantRound 2Baysangurov tried to get on the front foot but Brant’s stiff jab and straight rights were getting through and a short right to the side of the head saw Baysangurov dip and go down briefly on one knee. He did not seem badly hurt but there was blood dripping from his nose. After the count he came forward throwing punches but his defence was poor and Brant was able to score with counters.Score: 10-8 BrantBrant 20-17Round 3Brant was coming forward throughout the third but was only throwing one punch at a time. Brant couldn’t miss Baysangurov with his right as the lead punch or as part of a combination. Baysangurov scored with a crisp left hook but he was looking one-paced and limited. Brant was boxing cleverly on the back foot and continually finding gaps for his jab and right cross.Score: 10-9 BrantBrant 30-26Round 4Baysangurov continued to march forward but he was not quick enough to cut the ring off so Brant was able to keep moving and keep slotting punches through the Russian’s guard. Baysangurov showed no upper body or head movement making life easy for Brant whose confidence was growing with each round.Score: 10-9 BrantBrant 40-35Official Scores: Judge Mike Fitzgerald 40-35 Brant, Judge Pasquale Procopio 40-35 Brant, Judge Octavio Rodriguez 40-35 BrantRound 5A much closer round as Baysangurov threw more punches and landed some stiff shots to head and body. He was also using some upper body movement but not enough. Brant was taking pot shots on the back foot and landing overhand rights and at the end of the round connected with a six-punch combination.Score: 10-9 BrantBrant 50-44Round 6Another easy round for Brant. He was skating around the perimeter of the ring with Baysangurov plodding after him but never quick enough to catch him. Brant was banging home jabs and seemed to rock Baysangurov with a left hook Score: 10-9 BrantBrant 60-53Round 7The best action round so far. Baysangurov was chasing hard and letting his hands go more. Brant trapped Baysangurov on the ropes and unloaded a shower of punch but Baysangurov fought his way forward and landed some hefty hooks. The speed and accuracy of Brant’s punches gave him the edge.Score: 10-9 BrantBrant 70-62Round 8This was mainly a jab and move round for Brant. He was buzzing around Baysangurov scoring with his jab and occasionally stepping forward firing quick combinations. Baysangurov scored with some heavy shots late in the round but it was yet again Brant’s round.Score: 10-9 BrantBrant 80-71Official Scores: Fitzgerald 80-71 Brant, Procopio 80-71 Brant, Rodriguez 80-71 BrantRound 9Finally a good round for Baysangurov. He applied a lot more pressure threw more punches and did a better job of blocking or ducking Brant’s punches. Brant was not as busy and Baysangurov just did enough to take the round.Score: 10-9 BaysangurovBrant 89-81Round 10Brant outboxed Baysangurov in this one. He was moving more and found the range again with his jab. Baysangurov was too slow to trap Brant and when they did trade punches both landed, Baysangurov with a heavy right cross, but Baysangurov was the one breaking off the exchanges.Score: 10-9 BrantBrant 99-90Round 11Baysangurov made a bright start to the round ploughing forward scoring with some shots to the body. He fired home a strong combination but Brant connected with some quick punches. A long chopping right to the head from Brant staggered Baysangurov and Brant chased him across the ring scoring with lefts and rights to the head. Baysangurov dropped forward with both gloves touching the canvas but did not go down. He was given an eight count and when the action resumed a couple of rights to the head sent Baysangurov staggering back and the referee stopped the fight. Brant looks a different fighter to the one who failed so miserably against Juergen Brahmer in the WSSB super middleweight tournament in 2017. He was quick, skilful and finished the fight in style. There are much tougher fights out there for him but it is difficult to see how he can break into the division’s big boy’s league containing Saul Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin, Daniel Jacobs, Jermall Charlo, David Lemieux, Demetrius Andrade etc. Ukrainian Baysangurov was No 8 with the WBA but he was yet another fighter gifted a rating for winning one of the WBA regional titles and not for the quality of his opposition. When you rate fighters because their promoter paid a sanctioning fee and not because they have earned a rating you get one-sided title fights like this. Baysangurov is just 21 so there is time for him to earn a rating if he improves-or he could always fight for another WBA regional title!Greer vs. EscanerA quality performance from Greer as he finishes Escaner with a corrosive body punch after eight highly entertaining rounds of quality fighting. A fiery opening round saw Filipino Escaner pressing hard doing a good job of cutting off the ring and scoring with short bursts of hooks inside. Greer was quick and clever and was connecting with flurries of hooks and uppercuts. War was declared in the second as they traded clusters of punches. Escaner seemed to get the better of the exchanges landing some hard rights but there was quality aggressive work from both in hot action. Escaner was relentless in the third with Greer slick and countering well. Escaner lunged forward chasing Greer along the ropes. He landed a couple of rights and trying to get under them Greer squatted on the bottom rope and a glove touched the canvas. The referee decided that the rope was holding Greer up and gave Greer a count over Greer’s protests and the bell went. Greer scored big in the fourth piling on the right hands and staggering Escaner. Again there was some heavy trading with Greer coming out best. Greer’s speed and accuracy gave him the fifth and sixth with Escaner’s work rate dropping. The Filipino was fighting in burst and having to soak up some wicked left hooks to the body and overhand rights. Escaner came out punching in the seventh and for the last two minutes of the round they stood toe-to-toe and exchanged punches but now it was Greer forcing Escaner back and scoring the quality shots. They were toe-to-toe again in the eight when a right to the body saw Escaner stand still for a second and the spin around drop to his knees. The referee started to count but Escaner was not going to be getting up so he stopped the fight. The 24-year-old from Chicago retains the WBC Continental Americas title. He has finished nine of his last ten fights inside the distance and registers his seventeenth victory in a row. He is rated IBF 7(5). Greer is one of the many young men saved by boxing. His father was murdered when Greer was still a baby and he grew up on the streets into drugs and robbery and was almost killed in a drive-by shooting. After yet more trouble with the police his grandmother took him to a gym and that changed his life. Philippines champion Escaner suffers his second loss but played his part in a great little scrap.Allen vs. WebsterOne of these days Allen will get serious about his career. With the 6’4” Webster having some serious advantages in height and reach Allen had to force the fight and get past the job. He did that consistently and he hustled with success flooring Webster in the third and winning by a large margin on the judge’s scorecards at 98-91 twice and 97-92. The 33-year-old US-based Guyanan has been a pro for 14 years but inactivity in 2016 and 2017 and only one fight last year is no way to conduct a career. Webster, 36, had won his last nine fights with a couple of reasonable level victims but he was never really in the fight here and time is passing him by.Nelson vs. RomeroNelson found Mexican Romero tougher than expected but won clearly. Nelson made a slow start with a right to the side of the head knocking him off balance and as both gloves touched the canvas he was given a count. Nelson evened the score by putting Romero down with a couple of body punches in the third. He landed some booming head punches in the fifth and sixth but Romero took them and did not fold making Nelson fight all the way. Scores 59-54 twice and 58-54 for Nelson. The 30-year-old local boxer, a friend and stable mate of Terrence Crawford, is making good progress. Before turning pro he was US Army and Armed Forces champion, won the US National title and registered a win over Rob Brant. He travelled to London in 2012 as a first reserve for the US Team but did not get to fight. Romero has lost eight of his last nine fightsMuwendo vs. HerreraUgandan-born Muwendo puts a second brick in the wall of his rehabilitation with unanimous decision over US-based Colombian Herrera. Muwendo bossed the fight but with Herrera having scored 18 wins by KO/TKO including seven first round finishes he had to take care. Herrera was occasionally dangerous without ever winning a round. All three judges had Muwendo in front 60-54. Second win for Muwendo since losing to 19-1Filipino John Moralde in May. Muwendo had just one fight in Uganda before relocating to Minneapolis in 2009. Herrera is 2-4 in his last six fights including a one round loss against Dejan Zlaticanin in 2017.Howard vs. OlivasHoward holds on to his unbeaten record but only just as Olivas staged a strong finish. Howard had scored seven first round win but that never looked on the cards here as Olivas had never lost inside the distance. Howard looked on his way to a win early as he was getting past the jab of the 6’2” Olivas and working well inside. He was paying a price for his success as over the later rounds he was handicapped by cuts as Olivas came on strong to make the fight a very close call. The scores were 79-73 and 77-75 for Howard and 77-75 for Olivas giving Howard the split decision. Reality check for Howard against his toughest opponent so far. Mexican Olivas suffers his second loss in a row have been outpointed by Bilal Akkawy in September.February 16Los Angeles, CA, USA: Feather: Leo Santa Cruz (36-1-1) W PTS 12 Rafael Rivera (26-3-2,1ND). Light Fly: DeeJay Kriel (15-1-1) W TKO 12 Carlos Licona (14-1). Bantam: Ryosuke Iwasa (26-3) W TEC DEC 9 Cesar Juarez (23-7). Welter: Omar Figueroa (28-0-1) W PTS 10 John Molina (30-8). Feather: Marlon Tapales (32-2) W RTD 5 Fernando Vargas (34-14-3). Middle: Hugo Centeno (27-2,1ND) W TEC DEC 4 Oscar Cortes (27-4).Santa Cruz vs. RiveraThree division champion Santa Cruz outclasses Rivera in a one-sided contests and retains the WBA title in his third defence.Round 1A close opening round. Santa Cruz had the longer reach and was stabbing his jab out. Rivera was on the back foot and was quick to counter if Santa Cruz came up short. There was not a lot between them but just before the bell Rivera connected with some strong hooks and took the round.Score: 10-9 RiveraRound 2Santa Cruz was landed some heavy left hooks to the body and was quicker and more accurate inside. Santa Cruz was scoring with right uppercuts and when Rivera tried to fight in close he was having to soak some crisp shots with Santa Cruz blocking Rivera’s efforts.Score: 10-9 Santa Cruz`Tied 19-19Round 3Santa Cruz dominated this one but Rivera fought hard firing bunches of hooks. Santa Cruz was able to slot home his jab at distance and was doubling up on his left hooks. At the bell they were standing in front of each other just pitching hooks and uppercuts.Score: 10-9 Santa CruzSanta Cruz 29-28Round 4For the first half of this round Santa Cruz boxed at distance sliding jabs through Rivera’s defence and planting left hooks to the body. Rivera tried rushing attacks to get inside and landed some useful hooks but Santa Cruz was snappier and more accurate.Score: 10-9 Santa CruzSanta Cruz 39-37Round 5Santa Cruz boxed his way through this one. He was able to reach Rivera time and again with the jab and quick hooks. Rivera was fighting in burst waiting to draw Santa Cruz’s lead and then jump in firing hooks but he was becoming predictable and wild with his attacks.Score: 10-9 Santa CruzSanta Cruz 49-46Round 6Easily Santa Cruz’s round. Rivera hardly launched an attack or threw a punch. Santa Cruz was able to pick and place his punches jabs, straight rights, left hooks with Rivera throwing very little in return.Score: 10-9 Santa CruzSanta Cruz 59-55Round 7It was difficult to, understand Rivera’s tactics. In the early rounds if Santa Cruz was short with a jab Rivera would lunge forward throwing hooks now he was letting those chances go begging. Santa Cruz was comfortably coming forward behind his jab and bouncing punches off Rivera who was hardly ever throwing a counter. Easy for Santa Cruz.Score: 10-9 Santa CruzSanta Cruz 69-64Round 8A walk in the park for Santa Cruz. After trying to out jab Santa Cruz when that didn’t work Rivera went onto the back foot allowing Santa Cruz to land punches on him with his longer reach and connect with rights to the head. Rivera threw a few hooks but other than that it was Santa Cruz doing the work and the scoring.Score: 10-9 Santa CruzSanta Cruz 79-73Round 9Rivera was a bit more competitive in this round. He was once again throwing lots of hooks and uppercuts. Most were being blocked but at least he was throwing them. Santa Cruz worked steadily throughout the round scoring with more and better punches.Score: 10-9 Santa CruzSanta Cruz 89-82Round 10Rivera showed a bit more life in the tenth round. He threw bunches of hooks and uppercuts but most of them were wild or were blocked. Santa Cruz had not yet had to move out of second gear and worked steadily with his jab, right cross and left hooks to the body.Score: 10-9 Santa CruzSanta Cruz 99-91Round 11There was no heat left in this fight. Santa Crux just kept doing what he had been doing. Jab, jab, straight right, left hook and then start all over again. Rivera launched a wild attack late in the round-as he had been trying to do in most rounds, but he was embarrassingly ineffective and as he slaps with his right no real danger and an easy target for Santa Cruz’s counters.Score: 10-9 Santa CruzSanta Cruz 109-100Round 12Rivera tried some rushing attacks but Santa Cruz was able to block or dodge his punches and connect with accurate jabs and hooks. Over the last twenty seconds they both put their heads down and just threw punches in a frantic finish which did not erase the memory of eleven one-sided and pedestrian rounds.Score: 10-9 Santa CruzSanta Cruz 119-109Official Scores: 119-109, for Santa Cruz from all three judges.Too easy for Santa Cruz for whom it was just another uneventful day at work. He never seemed fired up and despite his dominance he never had Rivera hurt or shaken. He had to adjust to a late change of opponent and was not as sharp as usual. There are tougher fights awaiting him with Santa Cruz interestingly floating the idea of a third fight with Carl Frampton. In fairness to Mexican Rivera he was a late replacement for the injured Abner Mares and was parachuted into the ratings to give a cloak of legality to this challenge. His best win was a split decision over Wilfredo Vazquez Jr in 2015 and he lost a wide decision to Joseph Diaz in 2017 and a split decision to unbeaten Joet Gonzalez in July last year. Kriel vs. Licona I though this fight was coming too early in Kriel’s career but balancing that was the fact that although the champion Licona was also a relative newcomer to the title scene. In the end the South African came from behind-eight points on two cards- to score a dramatic late stoppage and lift Licona’s IBF title.Round 1Good early work from Kriel as he had his jab on target and was followed through with straight rights. He was also moving well changing angles and although Licona connected with a couple of rights it was Kriel’s roundScore: 10-9 KrielRound 2A better round for Licona. He had his own jab working, was slipping Kriel’s rights and countering. Kriel was keeping busy but it was Licona’s round.Score: 10-9 LiconaTied 19-19Round 3Kriel outworked Licona in the third. He was still firing jabs but was mixing in left hooks to the body and straight rights. Licona connected with a couple of overhand rights and a left hook just before the bell but was not doing enough and Kriel’s movement was making Licona look slow.Score: 10-9 KrielKriel 29-28Round 4Licona had a better round but it was still Kriel’s. The South African’s footwork and hand speed were giving him the edge. He was changing angles and picking his punches intelligently. Licona scored with heavy rights but not enough of them. Score: 10-9 KrielKriel 39-37Official Scores: Judge Rudy Barragan 38-38, Judge Pat Russell 39-37 Licona, Judge Daniel Sandoval 39-37 LiconaRound 5Licona’s round. He put Kriel under more pressure and was throwing more punches. He was landing left hooks to the body and clubbing rights. Kriel was throwing plenty but now Licona was ducking under Kriel’s punches and coming back with shots of his ownScore: 10-9 LiconaKriel 48-47Round 6Another round for Licona. He was getting forward and letting his hands go. He was landing heavy rights to the head and working the body. Kriel was still busy busy and finding gaps but the eye-catching punches were coming from Licona.Score: 10-9 Licona Tied 57-57Round 7Kriel upped his pace and threw plenty of punchers. Licona was using clever upper body movement to slip Kriel’s pinches and was countering better scoring with thumping body punches and rights to the head and just took the round.Score: 10-9 LiconaLicona 67-66Round 8This was proving to be a fast-paced open fight with plenty of both attacking and defensive skill on show. Initially Kriel tried to stand and exchange with Licona but eventually went back to boxing outside. Both threw plenty but Licona’s punches were heavier.Score: 10-9 LiconaLicona 77-75Official Scores: Barragan 77-75 Licona, Russell 79-73 Licona, Sandoval 79-73 Licona.Round 9Not a good round for Kriel. His accuracy had been key earlier but now by the simple manoeuvre of ducking Licona seemed to have negated that edge. Whilst Kriel was swishing air above Licona’s head Licona was moving in and landing left hooks and straight rights to the head and looked to be taking the fight over.Score: 10-9 LiconaLicona 87-84Round 10Kriel needed to change things and he did. He was now getting in close and going to the body with hooks and uppercuts. Licona was still landing the heavier shots but Kriel was making him miss more and was sharper and more accurate.Score: 10-9 KrielLicona 96-94Round 11A quality round as these two swapped punches with hardly a punch wasted they were both quick and accurate with very little between them but I felt that Licona’s overhand rights gave him the edge.Score; 10-9 Licona Licona 106-103Round 12Licona was coming forward just letting fly. Kriel was punching with him but in a more controlled manner and Licona was walking onto rights to the head. Kriel kept landing and Licona started to falter under the hail of punches. Licona came inside and tried to hold on but when the referee parted them two rights to the head dropped Licona to his hands and knees. Licona was up at eight and grabbed Kriel who wrestled him off. Licona went down but it was not a knockdown and he climbed up. Kriel landed two thudding rights to the head and Licona went down again. He made it to his feet but was unsteady and when the action restarted two more punches from Kriel saw Licona drop to his knees and the referee waived the fight over. A tearful Kriel celebrated his victory. Licona was given extensive medical attention before being taken from the ring on a stretcher. No information on his condition as I writeIwasa vs. Juarez Iwasa wins IBF eliminator after a brutal battle. Southpaw Iwasa was on the target in the first scoring with straight lefts. Juarez was mostly on the back foot looking to draw Iwasa’s jab and then fight inside. Juarez launched a storming attack at the end of the first but was just swinging wildly and their heads clashed with both fighters cut. Iwasa was picking Juarez off from distance in the second with Juarez flying forward just pumping out punches and leaving himself wide open to counters. The sheer volume of punches from Juarez threatened to overwhelm Iwasa in the third but Iwasa was able to find some space in the fourth and fifth and score with counters with Juarez continuing to swing long bursts of wild punches. Juarez’s cut was examined by the doctor and the referee also checked on it. Iwasa was picking Juarez off with accurate shots at distance at the start the sixth but before the bell in he was trapped on the ropes with Juarez swinging punches’. With his wide open approach Juarez was soaking up a lot of punishment but kept coming. Iwasa drove Juarez back in the seventh landing punch after punch. It looked as though Juarez was finished as Iwasa bounced his head around with punches. After the bell the referee walked Juarez over to the doctor for another examination of the cut. Iwasa handed out a savage beating to Juarez in the eighth and ninth but a tiring Juarez refused to fold but kept coming forward wide open but pumping out punchers. Iwasa was forcing an exhausted Juarez back in the tenth. Juarez had nothing left but heart and he had a big one and just before the bell they just pounded away on each other. At the end of the round the doctor ruled that Juarez’s cut was too severe for him to continue so the fight was stopped and it went to the score cards which read 98-92 and 97-93 for Iwasa and 95-95 with Iwasa the winner on a majority decision. Savage doesn’t even begin to describe this fight. Former IBF super bantam champion Iwasa will now move into the mandatory challenger position to champion T J Doheny. Juarez had been stopped by Isaac Dogboe in a fight for the interim WBO title in January last year and now he should take a very long rest. Figueroa vs. MolinaFigueroa decisions veteran Molina a gruelling but entertaining battle of attrition. Figueroa came out boxing as a southpaw in the first and Molina took some time to adjust. Figueroa did most of the scoring early in the round but after Figueroa switched to orthodox Molina did better and was dangerous with rights. In the second round it was Figueroa who was connecting with rights and he took the round. Figueroa was back to southpaw in the third and continued to switch throughout the fight. He was forcing Molina onto the back foot and ducking around Molina’s jab to work inside. They both landed with hooks inside and Molina trapped Figueroa on the ropes and bombarded him with punches to the bell. The fourth and fifth saw them brawling in closer. Figueroa connected with some heavy rights in the fourth as he kept Molina on the back foot but Molina was the one scoring with rights in the fifth. Molina came out ahead in the exchanges in the sixth but the rounds were close. It really was brutal no quarter stuff. In the seventh. The taller Molina did well when he could find space to use his jab but Figueroa was outscoring him inside. The eighth was a gruelling trial of strength and Figueroa was the one landing most and looking the stronger. Molina was moving around Figueroa using his jab at the start of the ninth and he stuck to that with Figueroa struggling to get inside. Molina was again trying to work at distance with his jab in the last and did well early with Figueroa closing the distance late in the round. Scores 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93 all for Figueroa. He landed more punches but the fight looked a lot closer than those scores. Texan Figueroa, 29, a former undefeated WBC light champion, looked very heavy in this fight. He was inactive in 2016 and had just one fight in 2017 and this was his first fight in nineteen months as a result he has a relatively low profile for a guy who had beaten Ricky Burns, Antonio DeMarco and Robert Guerrero in his last three fights but that will change with more activity. Molina, 36, has been in quite a few wars. This was his first fight since beating Ivan Redkach in December 2017 and I wonder how many more times he can go to the well.Tapales vs. VargasFilipino Tapales signals his return to the big fight scene with stoppage of Vargas. The former WBO bantam champion outboxed and then finished Vargas in five rounds. Tapales used his southpaw jab and some wicked lefts to the body to soften Vargas up and then late on in the fifth he floored Vargas with a right hook. Vargas made it to his feet but was unsteady on his legs and his corner pulled him out at the end of the round. Tapales won the WBO title in a dramatic battle against champion Pungluang in 2016 climbing off the floor twice in the fifth and going on to kayo Pungluang in the eleventh. He was to defend his title in 2017 against previous victim Shohei Omori. He stopped Shohei in the eleventh round but lost the title for not making the weight. He was then inactive for seventeen months before returning last September with a first round win. Still only 26 he is aiming for a title shot at featherweight now. Vargas was stopped in nine rounds by Jamie McDonnell in a challenge for the secondary WBA title in 2016 and last year was beaten inside a round by Ryan GarciaCenteno vs. CortesCenteno gets technical decision over Cortes. Centeno already looked on his way to a points victory before the fight was stopped due to a cut suffered by Cortes. After winning the first three rounds Centeno floored Cortes in the fourth. Cortes beat the count but was cut over his right eye in a clash of heads. The cut was too severe for Cortes to continue so as the fourth round had started it was decided on the score cards with the fourth round being scored on the activity up to the stoppage. Centeno won by 40-35 on all three cards. It has been a bit of a switchback ride for Centeno over the past couple of years. He lost to unbeaten Pole Maciej Sulecki in 20167, beat Immanuwel Aleem in 2017 then lost in three rounds to Jermall Charlo for the interim WBC title in April last year and this is his first fight since then. Mexican Cortes losses whenever he meets genuine opposition.February 15Mulvane, KS, USA: Super Bantam: Thomas Patrick Ward (26-0) W PTS 10 Jesse Hernandez (12-2,1ND). Super Light: Shohjahon Ergashev (16-0) W PTS 10 Mykal Fox (19-1). Heavy: Apti Davtaev (16-0-1) W TKO 1 Richard Carmack (15-15-1). Super Light: Bakhtiyar Eyubov (14-0-1,1ND) DREW 8 Jose Rodriguez (25-12-1). Fly: Nico Hernandez (6-0) W Victor Trejo (16-9-1).Ward vs. HernandezWard puts on impressive show in his first fight in the USA as he floors and outpoints southpaw Hernandez. Initially Ward was content to showcase his slick skills and outbox Hernandez. Ward’s movement was making it hard for Hernandez to get into the fight. In the fourth a sharp left hook floored Hernandez and he was still shaky when he made it to his feet but was saved by the bell. Ward upped his pace over the second half of the fight and although Hernandez did his best to be competitive the referee twice warned Hernandez that he was concerned over the amount of punishment he was taking but let the fight run its course. Scores 100-89, 99-90 and 98-90 all for Ward. The 24-year-old former undefeated British champion wins the vacant NABA-USA title and is No 4 with the WBO. For Hernandez Ward was too big a step up.Ergashev vs. FoxBig puncher Ergashev has to go the distance for a win against unbeaten Fox. It took a few rounds for Ergashev to figure out how to Handle Fox who is 6’3 ½” and a fellow southpaw. Ergashev kept rolling forward looking to get inside and attack the body. Fox was scoring well at distance and looking to tie Ergashev up inside. After a fast start the fight cooled down with Ergashev building a good lead. Fox boxed well doing a fine job of handling the aggression of Ergashev but neither fighter was busy enough to make the fight entertaining. Many rounds were close but Ergashev did the cleaner work and looked a good winner. Scores 98-92 twice and 96-94 for Ergashev. The 27-year-old Uzbek had scored 14 wins in his previous 15 fights and had knocked out Argentinian Nazareno Ruiz in 18 seconds in December but Fox was his sternest test so far. Ergashev is rated WBA 6/IBF 11(9) which is too high as he has yet to meet a rated fighter. Big setback for Fox and his lack of power will restrict how far he can go.Davtaev vs. CarmackDavtaev disposes of Carmack inside a round. The 6’5” Russian put Carmack down and out with a heavy right late in the opening round. The Chechnyan fighter makes it 15 wins by KO/TKO. He trains at the Kronk Gym. Carmack, 6’2”, is now 0-8-1 in his last nine fights with all 8 losses inside three rounds.Eyubov vs. RodriguezEyubov’s 100% record goes as he fights a draw with more experienced Rodriguez. It was a case of the higher work rate from Eyubov who took the fight to Rodriguez against the smart movement and more accurate work from Rodriguez. There was never much in it as both fighters had good spells and the rounds were hard to call so the majority draw looked about right. Score 76-76 twice and 77-75 for Rodriguez. Eyubov had scored useful wins over Jared Robinson and Karim Mayfield but he also has seven first round wins so some of his opposition has been poor. Mexican Rodriguez had gone the distance with Jose Pedraza and Sharif Bogere.Hernandez vs. GarciaLocal hero Hernandez gets eight rounds of useful work against little Trejo. Although only 5’4” tall Hernandez almost towered over diminutive southpaw Trejo. He was scoring with his rights at distance and landing solid hooks inside. Trejo stuck to his job always firing back but having to absorb lots of punishment. Hernandez tried to end this over the middle rounds but Trejo never looked like folding and stayed there fighting to the end. Scores 80-72 twice and 79-73 for Hernandez. The 23-year-old from Wichita was US Youth and National Golden Gloves champion and took a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics. Fourth loss in his last five fights for Trejo.Mulvane, KS, USA: Super Bantam: Thomas Patrick Ward (26-0) W PTS 10 Jesse Hernandez (12-2,1ND). Super Light: Shohjahon Ergashev (16-0) W PTS 10 Mykal Fox (19-1). Heavy: Apti Davtaev (16-0-1) W TKO 1 Richard Carmack (15-15-1). Super Light: Bakhtiyar Eyubov (14-0-1,1ND) DREW 8 Jose Rodriguez (25-12-1). Fly: Nico Hernandez (6-0) W Victor Trejo (16-9-1).Ward vs. HernandezWard puts on impressive show in his first fight in the USA as he floors and outpoints southpaw Hernandez. Initially Ward was content to showcase his slick skills and outbox Hernandez. Ward’s movement was making it hard for Hernandez to get into the fight. In the fourth a sharp left hook floored Hernandez and he was still shaky when he made it to his feet but was saved by the bell. Ward upped his pace over the second half of the fight and although Hernandez did his best to be competitive the referee twice warned Hernandez that he was concerned over the amount of punishment he was taking but let the fight run its course. Scores 100-89, 99-90 and 98-90 all for Ward. The 24-year-old former undefeated British champion wins the vacant NABA-USA title and is No 4 with the WBO. For Hernandez Ward was too big a step up.Ergashev vs. FoxBig puncher Ergashev has to go the distance for a win against unbeaten Fox. It took a few rounds for Ergashev to figure out how to Handle Fox who is 6’3 ½” and a fellow southpaw. Ergashev kept rolling forward looking to get inside and attack the body. Fox was scoring well at distance and looking to tie Ergashev up inside. After a fast start the fight cooled down with Ergashev building a good lead. Fox boxed well doing a fine job of handling the aggression of Ergashev but neither fighter was busy enough to make the fight entertaining. Many rounds were close but Ergashev did the cleaner work and looked a good winner. Scores 98-92 twice and 96-94 for Ergashev. The 27-year-old Uzbek had scored 14 wins in his previous 15 fights and had knocked out Argentinian Nazareno Ruiz in 18 seconds in December but Fox was his sternest test so far. Ergashev is rated WBA 6/IBF 11(9) which is too high as he has yet to meet a rated fighter. Big setback for Fox and his lack of power will restrict how far he can go.Davtaev vs. CarmackDavtaev disposes of Carmack inside a round. The 6’5” Russian put Carmack down and out with a heavy right late in the opening round. The Chechnyan fighter makes it 15 wins by KO/TKO. He trains at the Kronk Gym. Carmack, 6’2”, is now 0-8-1 in his last nine fights with all 8 losses inside three rounds.Eyubov vs. RodriguezEyubov’s 100% record goes as he fights a draw with more experienced Rodriguez. It was a case of the higher work rate from Eyubov who took the fight to Rodriguez against the smart movement and more accurate work from Rodriguez. There was never much in it as both fighters had good spells and the rounds were hard to call so the majority draw looked about right. Score 76-76 twice and 77-75 for Rodriguez. Eyubov had scored useful wins over Jared Robinson and Karim Mayfield but he also has seven first round wins so some of his opposition has been poor. Mexican Rodriguez had gone the distance with Jose Pedraza and Sharif Bogere.Hernandez vs. GarciaLocal hero Hernandez gets eight rounds of useful work against little Trejo. Although only 5’4” tall Hernandez almost towered over diminutive southpaw Trejo. He was scoring with his rights at distance and landing solid hooks inside. Trejo stuck to his job always firing back but having to absorb lots of punishment. Hernandez tried to end this over the middle rounds but Trejo never looked like folding and stayed there fighting to the end. Scores 80-72 twice and 79-73 for Hernandez. The 23-year-old from Wichita was US Youth and National Golden Gloves champion and took a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics. Fourth loss in his last five fights for Trejo.Ghent, Belgium: Welter: Meriton Karaxha (23-5-2) W PTS 10 Jean Pierre Habimana (9-16-3).Routine win for Karaxha. He had height and reach over Rwandan Habimana and was on the front foot for most of the ten rounds and Habimana was never able to get out of the way of Karaxha’s jab. When Habimana did come forward he lacked the power to trouble Karaxha. A right cross had Habimana in trouble in the seventh but Karaxha let him off the hook. Karaxha scored with a left to the body and some rights to the head later in the round but Habimana survived. Scores 99-91 twice and 98-92 all for Karaxha who retains the WBFederation International title. . The 27-year-old Albanian-born Karaxha is 12-1-1 in his last 14 fights. Four losses in a row for Habimana who has only the most basic of techniques.Hammanskraal, South Africa: Super Feather: Sibusiso Zingange (13-3-2,1ND) W PTS 12 Nataneal Sebastian (10-2). Feather: Jeff Magagane (11-3) W PTS 12 Tello Dithebe (20-11).Zingange vs. SebastianZingange wins the vacant WBA Pan African title with split verdict over NamibianSebastian. Although Zingange took the first round the strong attacks of Sebastian in the second had Zingange under lots of pressure and he was deducted a point for holding. Sebastian had a good third but the middle rounds were close. Zingange came on strong and took the ninth and tenth to edge ahead but Sebastian came back strongly in the eleventh. Zingange outboxed Sebastian in the last to just deserve the verdict. Scores 117-110 and 116-111 for Zingange and 115-112 for Sebastian. The South African No 1 collected the ABU title last near. “Iron Fists” Sebastian suffered his only loss when he was defeated on points by unbeaten Muhamad Ridhwan in Singapore in 2017.Magagane vs. DithebeSouthpaw Magagane collects the vacant WBA Pan African title with split decision over fellow-South African Dithebe. Magagane made good use of longer reach to go in front but Dithebe came into the fight more over the middle rounds and quickly evened things up. It remained close over the last three rounds but Magagane just did enough to get back in front and held off a strong finish from Dithebe to collect the decision. Scores 116-112, 115-113 for Magagane and 117-111 for Dithebe. A former two-time South African amateur champion Magagane dropped down two divisions to challenge for this title having lost for the WBA pan African lightweight title in 2017. “King Razor” Dithebe has lost 5 of his last 6 fights but four of those losses were in title fights.Oviedo. Spain: Welter: Aitor Nieto (24-6-1) W PTS 10 Hamza Misaui (9-2). Middle: Sergio Fernandez (8-0-1) W PTS 10 Jose Fandino (13-5). Super Light: Jonathan Alonso (18-0) W TKO 8 Ruben Garcia (5-6-2).Nieto vs. MisauiNieto holds on to the Spanish title with unanimous decision over Misaui. Fighting in his home town Nieto made a slow start but gradually took control outboxing his inexperienced challenger. With his lack of experience it was expected that Misaui might fade over the late rounds andNieto was looking to end it inside the distance but Misaui fought hard over the eighth and ninth and Nieto had to settle for a points win. Two judges had Nieto winning clearly 99-91 and 98-92 but the third had it close at 96-94. Nieto, 35. Is No 14 with the EU and will be hoping to get another shot at the EU title having lost in two previous challenges. Moroccan Misaui had won his last three fights.Fernandez vs. Fandino In a battle of two local fighters Fernandez wins the vacant Spanish title with a split decision over Fandino. Using his longer reach Fernandez built a lead over the first four rounds only for Fernando to cancel out that advantage over the next four. That left it down to the last two rounds and Fernandez just did enough to convince the judges. Scores a surprising 98-92 and 96-94 for Fernandez and 96-94 for Fandino. Fernandez was in his first ten round fight and faded a bit. The more experienced Fandino lost tough fights against Ronny Landaeta and Esquiva Falcao in 2017 but had two low level wins last year.Alonso vs. GarciaDominican-born Alonso is one of the coming stars of Spanish boxing. He halted Garcia here to retain the Spanish title. Alonso made a blazing start dominating the first round and then putting Garcia down in the second. Garciabeat the count and Alonso seemed to go, off the boil. Over the next three rounds the action slowed with too much holding. Alonso came back to, life in the sixth handed out punishment and put Garcia down in the seventh. Garcia made it to the vertical but the referee halted the contest. Seventh win by KO/TKO for Alonso. The 28-year-old Alonso had 95 amateur fights and only 11 losses. He was Spanish champion, competed at the World Championships in 2011 at the Olympic Games in 2012 and the Europe Championships in 2013. Fourth loss inside the distance for Garcia.February 16Roeselare, Belgium: Cruiser: Yves Ngabu (20-0) W PTS 12 Micki Nielsen (25-2). Even fighting in front of his home town fans this looked a tough European title defence for Ngabu on paper but in the end he was a clear winner on a unanimous decision. Nielsen let the fight get away from him with a slow start. The champion was getting inside the tall Dane's jab and banging to the body with hooks and uppercuts. There was already blood coming from Nielsen’s nose in the second round and he was holding inside to try to stifle Ngabu’s work. Ngabu continued to collect the rounds as he connected with some damaging uppercuts in the fourth and with Nielsen looking to be rocked by and uppercut in the fifth. The fight was almost half over before Nielsen finally began to make better use of his jab. He worked hard over the seventh and eighth as Ngabu’s work rate slowed. Any though that Nielsen was turning the fight his way were dispelled in the ninth with Ngabu again using hurtful hooks and uppercuts to take the round and he outscored Nielsen in the tenth. The Dane put in a big effort in the eleventh and forced the fight in the last but Ngabu boxed skilfully on the back foot finding gaps for counters. Scores 117-111 twice and 117-112 for Ngabu. Second defence for Ngabu who gets his mandatory out of the way. Many of the top European cruisers are tied into the WSSB tournament or are looking to step into a title fight when Olek Usyk decides to move up to heavyweight. So far Ngabu has not cracked the world ratings so that may be his next target. Meanwhile he will continue to give his management palpitations by playing football for one of the teams in the Belgian provincial league. Nielsen, who will be 26 this month, was beaten by Kevin Lerena on majority decision in 2016 and dropped out of the ratings. He had been largely inactive and this was his first fight for 13 months. He will need to busier if he is to shake off this loss.Herstal, Belgium: Light: Francesco Patera (21-3) W PTS 12 Marvin Petit (24-2-1). Belgian Patera wins against Frenchman Petit in yet another close, hard fought EBU title contest. Petit had won his last eleven fights and made a confidently start. He forced the fight with the champion on the back foot but boxing with his well recognised skill for countering with precise and accurate punches. Petit’s determined aggression was giving him the edge as he landed hooks and uppercuts. It was the fourth when Patera began to take control. He is not a big puncher but rarely wastes a punch and is adept at slotting his punches into gaps and keeping a high work rate. Petit connected with a strong right in the fifth but Patera absorbed it and kept firing his jabs and straight rights. Petit had expended a lot of energy over the early rounds and he seemed to tire over the middle rounds. Petit got back into the fight but was being outlanded by Patera who has great stamina. Petit kept firing and as they traded punches over the last two rounds it was obviously going to be very close but Patera was a deserving winner. Scores 115-113 twice and an unkind 117-112 all for Patera. This is the first defence of the European title for Patera in his second spell as champion. He showed his quality when going into Lewis Ritson’s back yard in defensive of his title in October and winning against the in form Englishman much more widely that the split decision indicates. At 25 he is still improving. The lightweight division in Europe is full of talented fighters. A return with Petit would be an attraction but there is a suggestion that Patera may look towards the IBO title. Petit, 27, a former French and European Union champion, will hope to get that return. His only other loss came back in 2013 against Yvon Mendy for the French title. It was a unanimous decision but two of the judges had it 96-94 Koblenz, Germany: Super Welter: Abass Baraou (5-0) W PTS 12 Carlos Molina (29-11). Super Welter: Jama Saidi (15-0) W PTS 12 Arman Torosyan (19-6-1). Light Heavy: Leon Bunn (13-0) W PTS 10 Viktor Polyakov(13-6-1). Super Light: Anthony Yigit (22-1-1) W PTS 8 Mohamed Khalladi (10-8-1,1ND).Baraou vs. MolinaBaraou wins the vacant WBC International title with unanimous decision over experienced former champion Molina. The rounds were close with Baraou making the better start but Molina being competitive all the way. Baraou rocked Molina with a left hook but Molina was finding gaps for counters. Baraou had a strong sixth connecting with a succession of punches but Molina came back in the seventh and eighth. Baraou again scored well in the ninth and being under pressure in the tenth Molina tried the referee’s patience once too often. He had been given a final warning in the ninth for being careless with his head and was rightly deducted a point when he sinned again. Baraou tired over the last two roundswith Molina finishing strongly to make close. Scores 115-112 twice and a much too wide118-109 all for Baraou. The 24-year German has the talent to make rapid progress and this will have been a useful learning fight. Former IBF super welter champion Molina, 35, is filling the role of teacher to rising prospects now having also lost recently to Carlos Adames, Josh Kelly and Souleymane Cissokho.Saidi vs. TorosyanSaidi predictably outpoints Torosyan in a one-sided defence of IBF European title. There was very little action in the first round but things looked promising when Saidi dropped Torosyan with an uppercut in the second. He was unable to finish things and Torosyan made it to the bell. Saidi dominated the fight from there. Torosyan had a couple of good rounds but other than that there were few highlights as Saidi worked his way to victory. Scores 118-109 twice and 120-107 for Saidi. Third defence of the IBF European title for Saidi. He had beaten Torosyan in 2018 by 11 points on two cards and 8 on the other. The difference between the EBU title fights and the IBF, WBA and WBO Europeantitle fightsis that the promoter can pick his own opponent for the IBF, WBA and WBO fights-they nominate no mandatory challengers- so his guy should always win. Saidi, 25, is a former German K-1 martial arts champion who turned to pro boxing at 17. His biggest win so far is over former EBU title challenger Sasha Yengoyan. Armenian Torosyan, 35, was stopped in four rounds by Martin Murray in 2017 and this was his first fight since losing to Saidi 11 months ago.Bunn vs. PolyakovBunn continues on his winning way with unanimous verdict over Polyakov. Comfortable win for Bunn. He worked well behind his jab constantly getting past Polyakov’s guard and Polyakov’s face was bright red from the punishment by the second round. It was a slow-paced fight with few highlights. Polyakov showed aggression a couple of times coming forward and throwing punches but generally hewas on the back foot on the end of Bunn’s jab. Despite his dominance Bunn never really had Polyakov in any distress as he boxed his way to his sixth points win in his last seven fights. Scores 98-92 twice and 97-93 for Bunn. The 26-year-old Bunn has good skills but seems a bit one-paced. He has been conservatively matched but needs to take a step up soon. Polyakov on the other hand has been in tough matches and this is his fifth loss in a row. He has some good performance on his record with a win over 26-2-2 Dariusz Sek and over Giovanni De Carolis, a former holder of the WBA secondary middleweight title.Yigit vs. KhalladiFormer European champion Yigit eases himself back into action with an eight round decision over Italian-based Tunisian Khalladi but injuries may cause another break. Yigit’s hand speed gave him a big edge and he was connecting with some sharp southpaw left counters and getting away. Khalladi keep pressing but by the fourth his frustration with clever body movement from Yigit had him relying on wild swings. Khalladi is strong and tough but crude and Yigit was finding him an easy target. In the sixth as Khalladi dived forward Yigit side-stepped and threw a punch. Their feet also got mixed and Khalladi dropped forward and was given what looked a harshcount. Yigit stepped up the pace in the fifth and scored a knockdown in the sixth. There was plenty of roughhouse stuff from both boxers in the seventh. Khalladi had often been leading with his head when he chargedforward and as their heads banged together a cut was opened over Yigit’s left eye. The Swede avoided any further injury and worked his way to the win. Scorers 80-71, 79-74 and 78-73 for Yigit. This was his first fight sincelosing to Ivan Baranchyk for the vacant IBF title in a WSSB Tournament fight in October. Apart from the cut Yigit also injured his hands so a win but a pyrrhic victoryfor Yigit. Khalladi was tough perhaps tougher than Yigit needed for his return. The Tunisian has yet to lose inside the distance.Manila, Philippines: Feather: Dave Penalosa (15-0) W TKO 4 Marcos Cardenas (19-7-1). Bantam: John Riel Casimero (26-4) W TKO 6 Kenya Yamashita (13-5). Fly: Carlo Caesar Penalosa (14-1) W KO 3 Watana Phenbaan (18-6). Bantam: Carl Martin (12-0) W RTD 3 Petchchorhae (17-3).Penalosa vs. CardenasA good night for the Penalosa clan as Dave and Carlo Caesar score inside the distance wins on a show promoted by former WBC super fly and WBO bantam champion Gerry. Dave struggled to make the weight for this fight but overcame that and halted Mexican Cardenas in the fourth round The tall skinny Cardenas had height and reach on his side but no real power. Penalosa rocked him in the first with a right to the head. Cardenas recovered quickly and was scoring with some accurate rights later in the round. Cardenas boxed around Penalosa in the second he was busier and Penalosa could not find the range with his jab. A lively third round saw both landing some hard punches as Penalosa managed to get close and force Cardenas to stand and trade. Penalosa was looking flat-footed and slow in the fourth and a right from Cardenas made Penalosa stumble. Penalosa quickly recovered and took the fight to Cardenas landing a right to the body and a left to the head. Cardenas took a couple of steps back and then went down on one knee. Cardenas was up at nine but did not have enough experience to hold and Penalosa drove home lefts and rights to the head before dropping Cárdenas with another body punch. Once again Cardenas was up at nine but when another body punch put him down the referee waived the fight off. Penalosa 28, the Philippines No 1, wins the WBO Oriental title with his eleventh victory by KO/TKO. After being inactive in 2017 Penalosa scored two moderate level wins last year and is aiming for a title shot. The Penalosa clan is a true boxing family. Dave is Grandson of former Philippines champion Carl Penalosa, the son former world champion Dodie, the nephew of both former world champion Gerry and former pro boxer Jonathan and younger brother of pro Dodie Jr. There are seven former/current fighters in the family including Carlo Cesar who fought on this same show. Cardenas had won five of his last six fights.Casimero vs. YamashitaCasimero returns and is looking to win yet another world title to make himself a three-division champion. He was several classes above a game Yamashita and was connecting with some savage punches from the opening round. He continued to rake Yamashita with searing body punches in the second and third and almost ended the fight with a fierce uppercut in the fourth. After a painful time for Yamashita in the fifth the referee visited the Japanese fighter’s corner but they insisted their man was capable of continuing. Casimero did not even bother to lift his gloves in the sixth but walked forward with his arms hanging at his sides slipping and sliding under Yamashita’s punches. Suddenly Casimero connected with a ferocious uppercut that mashed Yamashita’s nose and had the Japanese fighter slumping to the canvas. He was very badly hurt and almost fell, of his stool a couple of times as he was being attended to. Former IBF light fly and flyweight champion Casimero suffered an upset defeat against Jonas Sultan in 2017 and then took 10 months out before returning with a low level win in July now he will be looking to work his way into a shot at a version of the bantamweight title. Yamashita was moving up to ten rounds for the first time and found it a very painful experience.Penalosa vs. PhenbaanAnother member of the Penalosa family in the ring and another win. “Too Sharp” Carlo Caesar had Thai Phenbaan under fire over the first two rounds and then ended the in the fight in the third with a crunching right hook to the body that had Phenbaan on the floor in agony and unable to beat the count. The 25-year-old southpaw, the Philippines No 2, has won his last seven fights with five of those wins inside the distance. Fifth loss by KO/TKO for PhenbaanMartin vs. PetchchorhaeFilipino hope “Wonder Boy” Martin was much too quick and polished for more experienced Thai Petchchorhae. He showed some clever movement and good hand speed. Petchchorhae went over in the first and was given a count although it looked as though he had gone down trying to evade a punch rather than from one but the local southpaw was landing some scorching body punchers. Petchchorhae really was poor despite his record. He had very little foot work and was too slow. Martin worked him over with body punches in the second and third before flooring Petchchorhae just before the bell and Petchchorhae decided not to come out for the fourth. The 19-year-old Martin has been drawing rave notice in the Philippines and is considered by some to be the best prospect in the islands. This is his eighth win on the trot by KO/TKOL and his eleventh in total. Make a note of the name! Second inside the distance loss in a row for PetchchorhaeMackay, Australia: Super Light: Liam Paro (16-0) W PTS 10 Massimiliano Ballisai (22-6). Welter: Tysinn Best (10-0) W TKO 4 Dillon Bargero (5-7).Paro vs. Ballisai Paro comprehensively outboxes Italian visitor Ballisai but it will be some time before he fights again. The local southpaw broke both hands early on the fight and fought the rest of the way in considerable pain but won every round as the 100-90 score cards from the judges show. The former undefeated Australian champion is No 4 with the WBO (for beating Czech novice 11-0-1 Sebastian Bytyqi for a Regional title) and is hoping to work his way to a title shot once he recovers from the injuries. Italian champion Ballisai is experienced but loses when he tries to step up.Best vs. BargeroFighting in front of his home fans Best much too good for Bargero as he retains the Australian title with a fourth round stoppage. Best had Bargero down in the first and second rounds with the fight being stopped in the fourth. First defence of the title for Best. Bargero, the Australian No 10 suffers his first inside the distance loss.Montreal, Canada: Welter: David Theroux (15-3) W TKO 6 Jose Alfaro (31-12-1,1ND). Theroux continues to rebuild his stuttering career with a stoppage of former WBA secondary title holder Alfaro. The visitor made the mistake of trying to stand and trade with Theroux over the first three rounds. Theroux was younger and stronger and over the fourth and fifth he began to break Alfaro down. In the sixth with Alfaro fading fast and cut on his left eyelid the bout was stopped. Theroux, the Canadian No 7, came into this fight as a late substitute. His three losses have all been against imported fighters but ones who were a cut above most travelling losers. Nicaraguan Alfaro, 35, had won his last three fights but this is his ninth loss by KO/TKO.Sint Truiden, France: Super Light: Jessy Petit-Jean (15-0) W KO 5 Nukri Gamgebeli (10-5). Belgian Petit-Jean ended this one early with a second round kayo of Georgian Gamgebeli. The 29-year-old Petit-Jean makes it eight wins by KO/TKO. The former European and World Kickboxing champion is No 8 with the EBU. That looks a bit high on the basis of his of opposition and he has not really been tested. Gamgebeli has yet to win a fight outside of Georgia.San Pedro Alcantara, Spain: Super Welter: Jorge Fortera (19-1-1) W PTS 10 Navid Mansouri (19-2-2).Spanish champion Fortea gets split decision over Mansouri. Not a great fight in the end but a very close one with Fortea getting the split decision and collecting the IBF Inter-Continental title. Two judges had Fortera winning by three points and the other judge had Mansouri one point ahead. Sixth win on the bounce for Fortea and the first loss in over six years for Mansouri whose team protested the decision.Fight of the week (Significance): Leo Santa Cruz keeps the way open for some big fights in the featherweights with win over Rafael RiveraFight of the week (Entertainment)Two different fights stood out Dee Jay Kriel’s stunning victory over Carlos Licona in a fight full of quality and Omar Figueroa vs. John Molina a good old fashioned donnybrook (how’s that for old fashioned)Fighter of the week: DeeJay Kriel for his dramatic late win over Carlos LiconaPunch of the week: The body punch from Joshua Greerthat ended his fight with Giovanni Escanerbut even better was the ferocious uppercut from John Riel Casimero that destroyed Kenya YamashitaUpset of the week: Other than Kriel’s win nothing spectacularProspect watch: My Filipino friends tell me 19-year-old southpaw bantamweight Carl Jammes Martin 12-0 11 wins by KO/TKO could make it big.]]>Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:09:48 GMThttp://www.asianboxing.info/features/the-past-week-in-action-12-february-2019By Eric Armit-Highlights:-Gervonta Davis destroys Hugo Ruiz inside a round in WBA super feather title defence-Andrew Cancio pulls of huge shock win as he stops unbeaten Alberto Machado to win the secondary WBA super featherweight title-Jose Carlos Ramirez retains the WBC super light title with a majority verdict over Jose Zepeda in an entertaining fight that was close all the way-Rey Vargas gets off the floor and outpoints challenger Franklin Manzanilla in defence of his WBC super bantam title despite cuts over both eyes-Erickson Lubin stops Ishe Smith and sends the former IBF super welter champion into retirement-Ray Beltran returns and stops unbeaten Hiroki Okada-Javier Fortuna outpoints Sharif Bogere in a disappointing match-Mario Barrios goes to 23 wins with stoppage of Richard ZamoraWORLD TITLE SHOWSFebruary 9Carson, CA, USA: Super Feather: Gervonta Davis (21-0) W KO 1 Hugo Ruiz (39-5). Super Welter: Erickson Lubin (20-1) W RTD 3 Ishe Smith (29-11). Light: Javier Fortuna (34-2-1) W PTS 10 Sharif Bogere (32-2,1ND). Super Light: Juan Heraldez (16-0) W KO 7 Eddie Ramirez (17-3). Super Light: Mario Barrios (23-0) W KO 4 Richard Zamora (19-3). Light: Ladarius Miller (19-1) W KO 1 Daulis Prescott (32-11,3ND ).Feather: Angelo Leo (16-0) W PTS 8 Alberto Torres (11-2-3). Fly: Genesis Libranza (18-1) W PTS 8 Gilberto Mendoza (11-7-2).Davis vs. RuizDavis retains the WBA title as he obliterates Ruiz who never managed to land any punch of note before a stunning combination dropped and finished him just one second from the end of the opening roundDavis was shadowing Ruiz probing with his right jab as Ruiz slid around the ropes. Davis tried a couple of quick lefts to the body. Ruiz was just poking out his jab and tried a right but was short. Davis backed Ruiz into a corner and leapt in with a quick right followed by a left then backed off and Ruiz advanced to the centre of the ring. Davis backed Ruiz into a corner again and banged home a solid right jab followed by a powerful right to the side of the head. Ruiz took a step forward and then wobbled badly took a step back and dropped to one knee. He was in some distress but climbed to his feet at eight. There was blood pouring from what was probably a broken nose. He looked unsteady and when he failed to respond the referee’s questions the fight was stopped. That makes twelve wins in a row for Davis who has that deadly combination of speed and power. Ruiz was a very late substitute after Abner Mares had to withdraw with a detached retina but he was in some shape as he was due to fight Filipino Jhack Tepora on 19 January but instead outpointed Alberto Guevara who stepped in after Tepora was overweight. There is a WBA eliminator on 2 March between Edner Cherry and Ricardo Nunez but with Cherry having had only one fight in two years and Nunez never having faced a name fighter they pose no threat to Davis who plans to have another three or four fights this year. We will have to wait to see what develops. Former WBC super bantam champion Ruiz gets his fourth loss by KO/TKO and has said he will look to move down to feather.Lubin vs. SmithLubin destroys Smith and sends the former IBF super welter champion into retirement. Lubin dominated the first and then really went to work in the second. Initially he used his longer reach to keep Smith out and then connected with a couple of head punches that did not seem heavy but sent Smith down and onto his back. He slowly made it up just in time. Lubin chased Smith along the ropes and Smith fell to his knees although again it did not seem that Lubin had landed anything particularly heavy. He was up quicker this time but as the action restarted he went down again to his knees whilst ducking under Lubin’s punches. This time after the count he used some fast movement and punched back to survive to the bell. Lubin was chasing Smith down in the third and just before the bell Smith went down from a right to the head. He beat the count and the bell went and Smith’s corner pulled him out of the fight. Second fight for the 23-year-old Lubin since his first round kayo loss to Jermell Charlo in October 2017. With a couple more wins he should be in position to challenge for a title again. Good decision by Smith’s corner. The former IBF champion suffers his third loss in a row. He only lost on a split decision to now WBC champion Tony Harrison in May but looked all of his 40 years here. His punch resistance looked to have gone and it is a sensible retirement. Bogere vs. FortunaFortuna gets the unanimous decision but this was a poor fight which neither deserved to win. There was just some hesitant prodding of jabs in the first and although they did swap a few punches in the second, the best was a right from Fortuna which had Bogere holding on, but in fact there was more holding and wrestling than fighting and already the crowd was booing. The third, fourth and fifth were no better. When they did trade punches the exchanges were untidy and ineffective. It was a simple case of the two styles not mixing well. Both are good fighters but just not against each other. Things livened up in the sixth as at the start of the round they stood and threw hooks and uppercuts. They were just swinging wildly and Fortuna seemed to get the better of the exchanges. They went wild again at the end of the round throwing looses punches. They both tumbled to the floor but the referee decided that an left uppercut from Fortuna has put Bogere down and gave a protesting Bogere a count and he was showing a cut over his right eye at the bell. Bogere had probably been just in front before the sixth but the knockdown put Fortuna marginally ahead. The seventh round saw too much untidy mauling with Fortuna doing what clean work there was. Fortuna was firing body punches in the eighth with Bogere not able to counter. The referee stopped the action to get the ringside doctor to examine the cut over Bogere’s right eye but he was allowed to continue and Fortuna attacked the body again to take the round. Bogere staged a strong finish over the ninth and tenth but it was not enough. Scores 96-93 to Fortuna from the three judges. The 29-year-old Dominican is a former holder of the secondary WBA super feather title. He challenged Robert Easter for the IBF lightweight title but blew his chance by not making the weight and lost the fight on a split decision anyway. This is his first outing since falling through the ropes in his fight against Adrian Granados in June last which resulted in Fortuna being taken to hospital and the fight being declared a No Decision. Ugandan Bogere had a shot at the vacant secondary WBA light title in 2013 but lost on points. He was 9-0,1ND going into this one. Both will have better nights/.Heraldez vs. RamirezGood test for Heraldez and he passes with flying colours. Ramirez constituted his toughest fight on paper but he dominated the action putting Ramirez down in the fifth and again in the seventh with the count being waived on the second knockdown. Californian-born Heraldez, 28, a member of Floyd Mayweather Jr’s team, has ten wins inside the distance. No names yet but useful victories over unbeaten Jose Borrego and Kevin Watts. Third loss on the bounce for Ramirez having been knocked out by Antonio DeMarco and outpointed by Argenis Mendez.Barrios vs. ZamoraBarrios stops Zamora in the fourth. After a cautious opening they traded quick punches with Barrios scoring with a sharp left hook inside but it was an otherwise slow opening. The 5’10” Barrios had lots of height and reach over Zamora but the Mexican showed a useful jab. As Barrios began to open up in the second Zamora was being rocked by right hand counters. They both landed some good punches but a left hook from Barrios staggered Zamora at the bell. Barrios upped the pace in the third forcing Zamora back with a strong jab and Zamora fired back and landed a strong three-punch combination. That made Barrios a bit more cautious but again he landed a heavy right at the bell. Barrios rammed home a strong right early in the fourth but when he tried to follow that up Zamora ducked and dived and then held on tight with a frustrated Barrios tossing him to the floor. Barrios landed a series of rights to the head and Zamora visibly weakened. Barrios bombarded Zamora with head punches and although Zamora kept swing in hope he was taking too many head shots and the referee stopped the fight. The 23-year-old “El Azteca” the WBA No 1 has 15 wins by KO/TKO but has yet to face a name opponent and yet to be really tested. With typical WBA shenanigans he went from unrated to No 3 super light for winning their Inter-Continental welterweight title and from there to No 1 without fighting! The young Texan has talent and could be fighting for the title next year. Zamora had won his last five fights.Miller vs. PrescottA very quick win for Miller. Not a noted puncher southpaw Miller put a very over the hill Prescott down and out after just 57 seconds. “Memphis” Miller is on a ten bout winning streak including convincing victories over Jamel Herring and Dennis Galarza. Colombian Prescott was a late choice as Miller’s opponent and eight losses in his last nine fights, six by KO/TKO tells its own story.Leo vs. TorresLeo goes to 16 wins with points victory over Torres. Leo forced the fight from the first bell and scored knockdowns in the second and fifth rounds but Torres survived going on to lose by wide margins on all three cards. Scores 79-71 for Leo. Leo, 24, another Mayweather Team member, reportedly won 65 of his 75 amateur fights and is making steady progress. Torres only other loss was a split decision against useful 17-1-1Erick Ituarte.Libranza vs. MendozaFilipino champion Libranza gets his eighth win after taking the decision over Mendoza in a competitive contest. Libranza had expected to face an aggressive Mendoza but instead it was Libranza who had to force the fight with Mendoza cagey and countering. Libranza’s pressure paid off with a unanimous decision. Scores 78-74 on the three judges’ cards for Libranza. He made an ambitious challenge to South African Moruti Mthalane for the IBO flyweight title in Johannesburg in 2017 and was knocked out in four rounds. He has rebuilt with seven wins back home in the Philippines. Mexican Mendoza had won his last four fights.Indio, CA, USA: Super Bantam: Rey Vargas (33-0) W PTS 12 Franklin Manzanilla (18-4). Super Feather: Andrew Cancio (20-4-2) W TKO 4 Alberto Machado (21-1). Feather: Joseph Diaz (28-1) W PTS 10 Charles Huerta (20-6). Light: Adrian Estrella (29-3) W PTS 10 Oscar Duarte (15-1-1). Super Feather: Azat Hovhannisyan (16-3) W KO 5 Lolito Sonsona (22-3-4). Super Middle: Tureano Johnson (20-2-1) DREW 8 Fernando Castaneda (26-13-1).Varga vs. ManzanillaVargas gets off the floor in the second round and survives two doctors inspection of cuts over both eyes to retain the WBC title with wide points decision over determined but limited Manzanilla./Round 1Vargas took control immediately. With his height and long reach he was able to slot home his jab and score with right crosses. Manzanilla tried some rushing attacks but Vargas was able to take long steps back and either catch Manzanilla coming in or tie him up insideScore:10-9 VargasRound 2Vargas was again bossing the action behind his jab mixing in straight rights and left hooks to the body. It was too easy and that made Vargas careless and as he stood in front of Manzanilla preparing another attack the Venezuelan landed a sweeping left that dropped Vargas on his back. Vargas did not look badly shaken. After the count Manzanilla was desperately throwing hooks but Vargas was holding inside and smothering Manzanilla’s attacks. A frustrated Manzanilla wrestled Vargas to the floor which resulted in a bit more recovery time for Vargas who made it comfortably to the bell.Score: 10-8 ManzanillaManzanilla 19-18Round 3Vargas was back in charge. He was again spearing Manzanilla with jabs at distance and dropping in straight rights. Manzanilla was restricted to charging forward chucking hooks but Vargas was tying him up inside as the fight got messy.Score: 10-9 VargasTied 28-28Round 4Vargas was now on the front foot. Manzanilla had no answer to the champion’s jab and Vargas was going to the body with some wicked left hooks. A clash of heads saw Vargas suffer a small cut over his right eye.Score: 10-9 VargasVargas 38-37Round 5Vargas just kept sticking his jab in Manzanilla’s face and the challenger had no answer to it. Vargas was also countering when Manzanilla rushed in and instead of holding was pumping punches to the body. Manzanilla did go down but it was ruled a slip.Score: 10-0 VargasVargas 48-46Round 6Manzanilla launched some fierce attacks at the start of this round and connected with a few hooks. Vargas saw out the storm and then went to work with his jab and straight rights before moving in with blazing combinations. Manzanilla continued his rushing attacks but with his long legs Vargas was able to move back out of range and then step in quickly with counters.Score: 10-9 VargasVargas 58-55Round 7A clash of heads at the start of the round had blood dripping from the cut over the right eye of Vargas. Vargas lost his composure briefly but then punished Manzanilla with hard counters and connected with left hooks to the body. A wild Manzanilla was deducted a point for one of many punches to the back of the head. Vargas outscored Manzanilla and with the deduction that made it a 10-8 round.Score: 10-8 VargasVargas 68-63Round 8A messy round as Manzanilla became more desperate with his attacks and again was penalised a point this time for hitting on the break. Vargas did what clean scoring there was so another 10-8 round for the champion. Score: 10-8 VargasVargas 78-71Round 9A clash of heads in this round saw a cut opened over the left eye of Vargas and it was serious enough for the referee to have the doctor inspect it. Vargas was allowed to continue but he now had blood trickling down his face from both cuts. He began to keep his gloves high to protect the cuts and had more trouble dealing with the attacks of a fired-up Manzanilla who just did enough to take the round.Score: 10-9 ManzanillaVargas 87-81Round 10Manzanilla stormed forward for much of the tenth and managed to land some hooks. Vargas had his composure back and was connecting with jabs, straight rights and hooks and was the one coming forward at the bell.Score:10-9 VargasVargas 97-90Round 11Vargas boxed intelligently in this one. Manzanilla was flying in head first but Vargas was landing chopping rights and tying Manzanilla inside. Again Manzanilla had some success with hooks and rocked Vargas with a right to the head but was clearly outscored.Score:10-9 VargasVargas 107-99Round 12Manzanilla piled forward for the whole three minutes but was wayward with his punches. Vargas boxed mainly on the outside letting Manzanilla walk onto counters and firing quick combinations as took the round.Score: 10-9 VargasVargas 117-108Official Scores : Judge Lou Moret 117-108, Judge Dennis O’Connell 117-108 and Judge Pat Russell 117-108 all for Vargas. The 28-year-old champion was making the fourth defence of his WBA title. Manzanilla could never find an answer to the height and reach advantages of Vargas who outworked and outscored him all the way. Jessie Magdaleno is No 1 in the WBC ratings but Vargas is a Golden Boy fighter and Magdaleno is with Top Rank so that might be a difficult match to make and with his height Vargas might be more comfortable at feather where there are some good fights to be made. Colombian-based Manzanilla landed the title shot on the basis of a shock four round victory over Julio Ceja but he was outclassed by Vargas. The two deductions did not help his cause but he was lucky not to lose more points for punches to the back of the head and kidney punches. He is strong, aggressive but limited .Cancio vs. MachadoCancio climbs off the floor in the first round to steamroller champion Machado to defeat with four knockdowns in the fourth. Round 1Machado had plenty of height and reach over Cancio and as Cancio came forward he was caught by a couple of straight southpaw lefts from Machado. Cancio continued to advance and he was able to get past the jab and score with hooks. As Cancio moved in he ducked under a right and into the path of a short left hook that dropped him to the floor on his side. He was up at eight and Machado was throwing slashing hooks trying to repeat his success but Cancio was getting inside again and finished the round strongly.Score: 10-8- MachadoRound 2Machado was looking to box on the outside and land more left hooks. Cancio was walking through the punches and hooking to the body with both hands. The ferocity of Cancio’s attacks had Machado retreating and Cancio was doing the better work inside. Just before the bell Cancio rocked Machado with a series of hooks and took the round.Score: 10-9 CancioMachado 19-18Round 3A painful round for Machado. Cancio kept marching forward throwing hooks and uppercuts and Machado could do nothing to keep Cancio out. He was brushing aside Machado’s counters and rocked Machado’s head back and forth with a volley of punches. During the interval the referee was concerned enough to come to Machado’s corner to check he was OK.Score: 10-9 CancioTied 28-28Round 4Somehow Cancio seemed to have defused El Explosivo’s bombs and there was no power in the champions punches. Cancio was hunting him down and a long right to the body saw Machado take a step away and go down on one knee. He had his head bowed and looked a dispirited and beaten fighter. He reluctantly got to his feet at nine and as Cancio threw a couple more body punches, most of which seemed to be blocked, Machado dropped to the floor again. He was up at nine and hesitated before raising his gloves when asked to do so by the referee. The fight continued but only for a few seconds and as Cancio was throwing s few more body punches Machado dropped to the floor and the fight was stopped.Huge upset as Cancio wins the secondary WBA title. Cancio had been in erratic form losing to Ronny Rios and Joseph Diaz but beating Rene Alvarado and Hugo Cazares. He was inactive in 2017 and had two modest wins in 2018 but here his ferocious onslaughts just blew Machado away. Puerto Rican Machado had scored 17 wins by KO/TKO but he just seemed to have lost his power and when Cancio attacked the body he buckled then broke. Cancio may now defend against former conqueror Rene Alvarado who is rated No 1 and Machado may now move up to lightweight.Diaz vs. HuertaDiaz moves up to super feather and looks sharp in win over useful Huerta. Diaz controlled the action with a sharp strong southpaw jab and impressed with some flashing combinations. Huerta just could not get into the fight in any meaningful way but apart for a rocky time in the fifth he was never in any real trouble. Unanimity from the judges who all saw Diaz winning 99-91. Diaz had good and bad in 2018. He knocked out former WBC champion Victor Terrazas in February but then lost a unanimous decision to Gary Russell Jr for the WBC title in May. In August he outpointed Jesus M Rojas but had failed to make the weight for this challenge for the secondary WBA title so no title for Diaz. He was rated No 2 feather by the WBC and No 5 with the WBA but now it looks like he will move up and forfeit those spots. Huerta was having his first fight since beating 21-2 Miguel Angel Gonzalez on a technical decision in August 2017.Estrella vs. DuarteEstrella wins a split decision over unbeaten Duarte to breathe some life back into a career that seemed to be going nowhere. Duarte was quicker and more accurate and built a substantial lead. Estrella put in a strong finish and managed to claw back some of that deficit but did not seem to have done enough but the judges decided otherwise. Scores 98-92 and 96-94 for Estrella and 97-93 for Duarte. There was a time not that long ago when Estrella was the hottest prospect in Mexico. He won his first 22 fights 18 by KO/TKO beating Dante Jardon and former champion Ernesto Caballero along the way. His power was camouflaging some serious deficiencies in his defence and his run was broken by a crushing loss to Filipino Eden Sonsona. Estrella continued to win but he was no longer the hot prospect and losses last year to unbeaten fighters Subriel Matias and Alex Duran seemed to indicate a serious decline so he badly needed a win here. Duarte had shown promise in wins over Juan Jose Montes, Rey Perez and Roger Gutierrez so hopefully this will be a temporary blip.Hovhannisyan vs. SonsonaThe aggression of former WBC title challenger proves too much for Filipino Sonsona. Hovhannisyan’s fierce attacks particularly his left hooks to the body had Sonsona on the back foot from the off. He strayed low a few times but the body attack weakened Sonsona. In the fifth a right put Sonsona down. He was up but looked shaky and Hovhannisyan forced him to the ropes. Sonsona threw a weak left and Hovhannisyan came over the top with a stunning right and two more rights to the body saw Sonsona drop to the canvas and he was counted out. A win over Ronny Rios in March last year saw Hovhannisyan pitched in against Rey Vargas in a challenge for the WBC title in May but he lost a unanimous decision. He bounced back in October with a stoppage of 24-4 Jesus Martinez. He is No 8 with the WBC and with a couple more impressive wins such as this could yet land another title chance. Sonsona lost by a large margin against Jason Moloney in 2017 and this is only his second fight in eighteen months and his first loss by KO/TKO. Johnson vs. CastanedaDisappointing performance and disappointing result for Johnson. This was the first fight in eighteen months for Bahamian Johnson but he looked sharp enough at the start. He had a much better skill set than the Mexican “Hurricane” and outboxed him early. Castaneda kept pressing and got into the fight more and more. Johnson probably had a slight lead going into the last but Castaneda staged the stronger finish and that was enough to get him a share of the decision. Scores 77-75 for Johnson, 77-75 for Castaneda and 76-76. A last round stoppage loss to Sergey Derevyanchenko in August 2017 in what was virtually and IBF eliminator cost Johnson the chance of a title shot and he will now have to fight his way back into the ratings but at 35 he is on the clock. Castaneda had a title shot in 2011down at super light when he was stopped in four rounds by Johan Perez but he is 24lbs heavier and at 4-6-1in his last 11 fights a long way down the road from that high point.February 10Fresno, CA, USA:Super Light: Jose Carlos Ramirez (24-0) W PTS 12 Jose Zepeda (30-2,1ND). Super Light: Ray Beltran (36-8-1) W KO 9 Hiroki Okada (19-1). Feather: Carlos Castro (22-0) W PTS 10 Genesis Servania (32-2). Super Feather: Andy Vences (22-0-1) W PTS 8 Dardan Zenunaj (14-6). Light: Saul Rodriguez (23-0-1) W TKO 5 Aelio Mesquita (17-4). Super Light: Cristian Coria (29-7-2) W KO 3 Joel Diaz (24-2).Ramirez vs. ZepedaRamirez holds on to the WBC title with majority verdict over Zepeda in a fight that was too close to call until Ramirez settled it over the championship rounds. Zepeda found the range early with his southpaw jab with Ramirez tending to ignore his own jab. Ramirez was taking the fight to Zepeda but the speed and accuracy of Zepeda’s work saw him take the first two round. In what was to be the pattern for much of the fight. Ramirez then had a good couple of rounds finally using his jab and getting inside with some effective body punches and rocking Zepeda with rights in the fourth. At that stage the judges all had identical 38-38 scores and had all scored every round the same. Ramirez kept the imitative over the fifth and sixth. He was still under using his jab but was making up for that with sustained pressure that was forcing Zepeda onto the back foot and allowing Ramirez to do some hurtful body punching when he pinned Zepeda to the ropes. The fight swung back to Zepeda over the seventh and eighth with his jab constantly getting past the guard of Ramirez and smart footwork allowing him to find the space to counter the attacks of Ramirez. After eight rounds there was very little between them with two judges having them level on 76-76 and the other giving Ramirez the edge at 77-75. The body punching from Ramirez finally began to bring rewards over the closing rounds. Zepeda was still jabbing well and moving skilfully but also being forced to stand and trade more which favoured Ramirez. Critically the champion’s pressure earned him the points in the ninth and tenth and it looked as though the fight was going all his way. Zepeda was not finished and he stormed back to take the eleventh and put the result in the balance again. They both fought fiercely in the last and it was a late burst from Ramirez that made the difference and he took the round and the decision. Scores 116-114 and 115-113 for Ramirez and 114-114. Ramirez was making the second defence of his WBC title and is now looking to unify the titles but the position there won’t be clear until the fate of the WSSB tournament is decided as the WBC “Diamond” champion Regis Prograis and No 1 challenger Josh Taylor are still waiting to fight in the WSSB semi-finals. Zepeda came so close. Close enough to deserve a return but Ramirez may not want to take that step back. I have some sympathy for Zepeda. He fought Terry Flanagan for the vacant WBO lightweight title back in 2015 but dislocated his shoulder in the second round of that fight and had to retire. It has taken him almost three years to get another title shot.Beltran vs. Okada It is rarely boring when Ray Beltran fights and it was no different in this one as he stopped the previously unbeaten Okada in the ninth round. Okada was looking to fight this one from the outside and avoid getting dragged into a close quarters brawl which is where Beltran is most effective. However with typical Japanese fighting spirit Okada was willing to trade if he had to. The action was hot from the opening round. In an amazing second Beltran made a big statement flooring Okada with a left hook. Okada beat the count and then showed fighting spirit in spades as he staggered Beltran with a right and then proceeded to batter Beltran for the rest of a frantic round. The fight calmed a little after that and gradually Okada began to find the target with his long range punches. Beltran kept ploughing forward and did his best work when he could pin Okada to the ropes. The Japanese fighter looked to have edged in front and Beltran seemed to be tiring. That changed in the ninth when Beltran connected with a right to the head that put Okada down. He made it to his feet but Beltran drove him to a corner and rained punches on Okada until he went down again and Okada’s corner immediately asked the referee to stop the fight. Now at supper light Beltran collected the WBC Continental and WBO Inter-Continental titles which should put him in the ratings. Nothing is straightforward with Beltran. In world title fights he has lost to Terrence Crawford for the WBO lightweight title then beaten Takahiro Ao in what was to be a fight for the vacant WBO lightweight title but he had failed to make the weight and tested positive for a banned substance. He finally won the WBOI title by beating Paulus Moses in February 2018 but lost it in his first defence against Jose Pedraza in August. The super light situation is muddied but Beltran will be looking for a title shot. Okada had halted 40-2-1 Jason Pagara and a few reasonable but not outstanding opponents and was floored in taking a split verdict over Cristian Coria so he will have to fight his way back to get another shot.Castro vs. Servania Big win for Castro as he decisions former WBO featherweight title challenger Servania and hands the Filipino his second loss. Castro simply outboxed Servania he was too quick for the Filipino and won by a wide margin on all cards. Servania was cut over his right eye in the second round which did not help his cause but hard as he chased he just could not pin Castro down and kept eating fast accurate counters. Score 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 all for Castro. The 24-year-old from Phoenix wins the vacant WBC Continental Americas title in what was only his second ten round fight. After winning his first 29 fights Servania had Oscar Valdez on the floor before losing to him for the WBO title in February 2017. He has won three fights since then including a inside the distance victory over former WBC bantamweight title challenger Carlos Carlson but with this defeat Servania has blown his WBO No 1 position.Vences vs. ZenunajLocal fighter Vences returns to action and gets eight rounds of work as he outpoints Kosovon-born Albanian Zenunaj . “The Shark” was having his first fight since scoring a good win over Frank De Alba in July. Vences won every round with the three wise man all seeing Vences the winner by 80-72. A draw with unbeaten Erick de Leon is the only slight blemish on Vences record. Three losses in a row for Zenunaj but one of those over ten rounds against Andrew Cancio with one judge seeing it a 96-94 fight.Rodriguez vs. MesquitaRodriguez rolls on with stoppage of Brazilian Mesquita. That makes it seventeen wins in a row for Rodriguez and he has a total of seventeen inside the distance victories. The draw on his record was a technical one. Mesquita has lost 4 of his last 5 fights but all against opposition he would be expected to lose to and all on the road. Coria vs. Diaz A wow! here as Coria beats once world rated Diaz in three rounds. No sign of the upset to come as Diaz seemed to be controlling the fight over the first two rounds. In the third Coria blitzed Diaz with a shower of punches and Diaz went down under the barrage. He arose but seemed unsteady. Coria then landed a ferocious left hook that put Diaz down on his back. He scrabbled around trying to get up but the referee waived the fight off. This should have been a routine win for Diaz. The 36-year-old Argentinian Coria was down at No 10 in the Argentinian ratings with an unthreatening 12 wins by KO/TKO. He had been floored and lost every round against Canadian Custio Clayton in 2017 but a much better result is his only losing on a split decision against unbeaten Hiroki Okada in September. Diaz’s only other loss was a two round stoppage by Regis Prograis in 2017 and he took fourteen months out after that before returning with a win in October last year.February 8Sydney, Australia: Super Welter: Tim Tszyu (12-0) W TKO 2 Denton Vassell (25-6). Super Middle: Rocky Jerkic (17-1) W PTS 8Mark Lucas (9-1). Super Middle: Cesar Tapia (9-0) W PTS 8 Adam Copland (4-1). Heavy: Paul Gallen (9-0) W TKO 2 John Hopoate (12-6).Tszyu vs. VassellTszyu blows away a faded Vassell inside two rounds. The young Australian found his range early and scored well over the first round. There was a brief stoppage in the second as Vassell had left his corner without his mouthguard but when the action resumed a series of punches floored Vassell. He beat the count but Tszyu drove him to the ropes and a left uppercut followed by a right to the head saw Vassell staggering along the ropes with his guard down. Tszyu followed him along the ropes raining punches to the head until the referee stepped in to save Vassell. Tenth win by KO/TKO for the 24-year-old son of the great Kostya Tszyu. He collects the interim WBA Oceania title as he prepares to head out to the USA for sessions at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym and Floyd Mayweather Jr’s Boxing Club. Former Commonwealth champion Vassell, 34, was 20-0 at the start of his career but is now 5-6 in his last 11 which tells his own story but in fairness to Vassell he took this fight a short notice and his other losses have also been against tough opposition.Jerkic vs. Lucas Jerkic just gets by Lucas on a split decision. Scores 78-73 and 77-75 for Jerkic and 78-76 for Lucas. Both fighters had the effects of inactivity to shake off. Former undefeated Australian super welterweight champion Jerkic was having his first fight for six months and only his second fight since losing to Anthony Buttigieg for the Vacant Commonwealth title in March 2017. Former Australian amateur champion Lucas had run up nine wins and then surprisingly retired in 2017 and this is his first fight since then.Tapia vs. CoplandMexican youngster proves much too good for Copeland and takes wide unanimous decision. Scores 80-72, 79-72 and 78-73 all for Tapia. The 20-year-old MTK Global boxer has done all of his pro boxing in Australia and is making good progress. Copeland, a top level amateur, was moving up to eight rounds for the first time. He is just 23 so can rebound from this. Gallen vs. HopoateGallen halts former Australian champion Hopoate in rubbish match-up. Gallen was too strong and fit for oldie Hopoate. After pounding on Hopoate for two round Gallen cornered Hopoate and banged away to head and body as Hopoate tried to hide behind a high guard. Eventually Hopoate dropped his hands to punch back which left him open and Gallen stunned him with a left hook and then connected with a series of head punches that had Hopoate falling forward and face down on the canvas with the referee immediately ending the fight. At 37 Gallen is probably going nowhere but as a former professional Rugby League player and Australian international he is news and sells tickets. His first eight opponents had just twelve wins between them and Hopoate, 44, was having his first fight for nine years which says it all.Philadelphia, PA, USA: Bantam: Victor Ruiz (23-10) W KO 2 Christian Carto (17-1). Heavy: Darmani Rock (14-0) W KO 4Steven Lyons (5-4).Ruiz vs. Carto Local hope Carto doing OK until a thunderbolt from Ruiz puts him down and out.. The Philly prospect was boxing well and took the opening round of the fight against limited Mexican southpaw Ruiz. In the second as Carto was just short with a jab Ruiz stepped inside and landed a booming left to the head. Carto went down heavily on his back with his head slamming onto the canvas. The referee instantly waived the fight over and the ringside doctor and other medical aides climbed into the ring to attend to Carto. He was given oxygen and taken from the ring on a stretcher and to hospital. No news yet of his condition although he was said to be alert as he left the arena so let’s hope it is not too bad. Huge shock for the fans of the 22-year-old former National Golden Gloves champion. Ruiz had lost his last four fights against relatively modest opposition but with 15 wins by KO/TKO he was a dangerous opponent..Rock vs. LyonsRock gets another win but in a dull and uninspiring fashion. Lyons was never in with a chance against the former Elite level amateur star. He was smaller with very limited technique and giving away 63lbs in weight. There was very little in the way of excitement and it was embarrassing that Rock could not get Lyons out of there. Finally in the fourth he took Lyons to a corner and unloaded a few head punches and Lyons slid down and then just took the full count whilst on one knee and showed no inclination to get up. Rock,22, is 6’5” and was 273 ¼ lbs for this fight. That is some way below the 315lbs of the 6’4” Jarrell Miller but is a heavy burden to carry for ten rounds and he does not seem to have the punch power to blow away better class opposition. He was outstanding as an amateur He was US, Pan American and World champion at Youth level and won gold medals at both the US National Championships and the National Golden Gloves. An inside the distance loss to Marlo Moore cost him a place in the US Team for the 2016 Olympics so he has great credentials. Heavy or not he has to be respected. Second loss inside the distance for the 209 ¾ lbs Lyons.Lautaro, Chile: Feather: Cristian Palma (30-10-1) W PTS 10 Ernesto Franzolini (8-9-1).Home town fighter Palma extends his winning run to ten with unanimous decision over Argentinian prelim fighter Franzolini. A left hook from Palma dislodged Franzolini’s mouthguard in the first round as he was getting past the jab of the taller man and working inside. Franzolini lost a point in the second for a punch to the back of Palma’s head and a point in both the third and the fifth for the same offence. Palma was scoring repeatedly with his jab and left hooks but Franzolini fought hard, if wildly, in every round. An already lost cause disappeared completely when he was again penalised for a punch to the back of Palma’s head. It began to look as though if he wasn’t careful Franzolini would finish up with a minus score. Palma was streets ahead in technique. Franzolini never gave up charging forward but lost every round-plus a few points. The Chilean was making the second defence of his South American title. Franzolini was having his first fight outside of Argentina.Bangkok, Thailand: Super Bantam: Saenganan (23-1) W PTS 10 Noldi Manakane (33-28-3)Easy night for teenager Saenganan as he wins every round against experienced but long since faded Manakane. Saenganan was too quick and too busy for the 35-year-old Indonesian. Scores 100-90 for Saenganan from all three judges. He wins the interim WBC Asian Boxing Council Silver title (so not even the interim title but the Silver interim title). The 19-year-old 5’2” Thai has been confined to strictly substandard opposition since being floored twice and knocked out by Filipino no-hoper Edison Berwela in January last year.Manakane is now 1-7-1 in his last 9 fights.February 9Paris, France: Super Welter: Souleymane Cissokho (8-0) W KO 3 Romain Garofalo (14-4). Bantam: Elie Konki (6-0) W PTS 10 Anthony Chapat (5-1-1). Super Light: Yazid Amghar (22-0) W TKO 4 Oszkar Fiko (32-27-1).Cissokho vs. GarofaloCissokho wins the vacant French title against seriously overmatched Garofalo. Cissokho started the first round cautiously but before the bell was already connecting with powerful uppercut. In the second he had Garofalo in trouble from a left hook but Garofalo did not crumble. It ended in the third as Cissokho put Garofalo down. He connected with a wicked right to the body followed by a left hook and another body punch which dropped Garofalo. He made it to his feet but a right to the body almost cut him in half and he went down in agony and was counted out. Senegalese- born Rio bronze medallist Cissokho, 27, was returning after eight months of inactivity due to an operation to repair a rupture of a tendon in his left bicep. He registers his sixth win by KO/TKO. Garofalo was having his second shot at winning a French title but was never in with any sort of a chance against the talented Cissokho.Konki vs. ChapatKonki, another former top amateur, makes a successful first defence of the French title with points victory over flyweight champion Chapat. Konki used his longer reach and some fierce counters to control this one Chapat kept trying to get close but the speed and accuracy of Konki had him floundering at times. Konki began to load up on his punches in the ninth to try to end the fight early and dropped Chapat with a crunching left hook to the body in the tenth but Chapat beat the count and was saved by the final bell. Scores 99-90 for Konki on the three cards. Konki, 26 was French champion in 2012,2013,2104 and 2015 and fought at the Rio Olympics. Chapat showed guts but was in against a fighter several classes above him in ability.Amghar vs. FikoAmghar overcomes awkward Romanian Fiko and finishes in impressive style. Amghar was careful early as the head down rushes of Fiko could have caused injury but once he settled it was just a matter of time before he ended things. He rocked Fiko with a right and a left hook in the third then finished the job in the fourth. A left hook to the head and a left to the body sent Fiko down. He beat the count but another left hook had him rolling in agony on the floor and the fight was waived off. Ten wins by KO/TKO for the undefeated former French champion. He was an outstanding performer at French boxing where both fists and feet are used but then switched conventional boxing before eventually turning pro. He is No 13 with the EBU. Now thirteen defeats by KO/TKO for Hungarian-based Fiko.Berlin, Germany: Light Heavy: Nick Hannig (7-0) W PTS 12 Ryan Ford (15-4). Super Middle: Yusuf Kanguel (18-3-1) W PTS 10 Vartan Avetisyan (18-1-2). Welter: Rico Mueller (25-2-1) W PTS 8 Bethuel Ushona (36-8-1).Hannig vs. FordHannig wins the vacant WBC International title with close unanimous decision over Canadian Ford. The local fighter dominated the early rounds. He took control of the centre of the ring and outboxed the slower but strong Ford. After four rounds Hannig was way in front at 40-36 on all three cards. Hannig built on his lead over the fifth and six but gradually the strength of Ford began to tell and he pushed strongly over the seventh and eighth but importantly Hannig had a strong ninth which left Ford with a big gap to bridge. Ford began to get through with some heavy head punches over the last three rounds against a tired Hannig. Ford came close but it was just too big a deficit to claw back. Scores 115-113 twice and 117-112 all for Hannig. The 32-year-old “Mr Business” is reported to have ended his amateur days after 100 fights with 79 wins before turning pro at 30. He had never gone past eight rounds before so the experience of goiung twelve will have helped his confidence. The “Mr Business” is because he owns a security company and a gym and the money from this fight will help him build his collection of vintage Harley Davison’s. Ford, 36, a former MMA campaigner, has lost 4 of his last 5 fights but they have all been on points in the other guy’s backyard and he is one tough customer.Kanguel vs. Avetisyan Kanguel wins the vacant WBC Mediterranean title in a fight that was close from first to last. Kanguel tactics were to march forward behind a high guard with Avetisyan moving and countering. As expected Kanguel was most effective when he could take Avetisyan to the ropes and work the body. Avetisyan did his scoring at distance and neither was really dominating. The scores after four rounds reflected this at 39-37, 37-39 and 38-38. Kanguel was finding plenty of gaps in the defence of Avetisyan as he ploughed forward but Avetisyan was throwing more and the judges were still having difficulty splitting them. The position had not really changed after eight rounds with two judges carding 76-76 and the third just giving Kanguel the edge at 77-75. Kanguel had a big ninth having Avetisyan shaken and in trouble and although Avetisyan fought hard in the last it was not enough. Scores 96-95 twice for Kanguel and 95-95. German Kanguel had won this same title in March last year but did not defend it. He has won 11 of his last 12 fights with the loss being to world rated Vincent Feigenbutz. Armenian-born Avetisyan, 29, came to Germany at the age of five as a refugee but has retained his Armenian nationality. Kanguel was a step up in the quality of his opposition but he made it close here.Mueller vs. UshonaMueller beats Ushona again and as in their first fight wins every round against the Namibian veteran. The 30-year-old German has won 17 of his last 18 fights including a points victory over Ushona in August. A ninth round stoppage by Jeff Horn in 2016 is only loss in that run but his opposition has been pretty non-threatening. At 36 Ushona is on the downward path with just two wins in his last seven fights.Manila, Philippines Bantam: Reymart Gaballo (21-0) W TKO 2 Yuya Nakamura (9-3-1). Light: Romero Duno (19-1) W KO 2 Kuldeep Dhanda (7-2).Gaballo vs. NakamuraAnother power showing from outstanding Filipino Gaballo. He almost ended this one in the first three minutes putting his Japanese opponent down twice. Nakamura survived to hear the bell for the second round but was annihilated by crunching shots from Gaballo. A right sent Nakamura to the ropes. He tried to punch with Gaballo but was rocked by a right to the head and hurt by a left to the body before a wicked left hook to the chin saw him drop to his knees with his head touching the canvass. He grabbed the ropes and clung to them as he made it to his feet but the referee waived the fight over. The 22-year-old “Assassin” is living up to his nickname. He has won 13 of his last 14 fights by KO/TKO in a total of 18 inside the distance victories. He won the interim WBA title with a points decision over unbeaten Stephon Young in March last year. Second loss by KO.TKO for Nakamura who was overmatched here.Duno vs. DhandaNot to be outdone “Ruthless” Duno scored an even more spectacular kayo over Indian novice Dhanda. Duno had the outclassed Dhanda down in the first and then crushed him in the second. Dhanda scored with a sharp straight right then Duno connected with a couple of jabs and landed a fearsome overhand right that sent Dhanda face down on the canvas out cold. Ten wins in a row for 23-year-old US-based Duno and his fifteenth victory by KO/TKO. In fights in the USA Duno has scored useful wins over unbeaten Christian Gonzalez, Yardley Armenta Cruz and Gilberto Gonzalez. He is not in the ratings but he won the vacant WBA Asian title in this fight and in the twisted WBA figuring beating an eight fight novice for this minor title will count for more than the victories over much better opposition in the USA. The WBA got a sanctioning fee for this one-that’s their ranking criteria right there. First fight outside India and first loss by KO/TKO for Dhanda.Korbach, Germany: Mario Jassmann (18-0) W TKO 5 Mika Joensuu (15-11). Ilja Mezencev (19-1,1ND) W TKO 2 Jan Hrebik (1-12).Jassmann vs. JoensuuToo easy for Jassmann as he stops overmatched Finn Joensuu in five rounds. Joensuu tried to come forward behind a high guard so Jassmann was able to slot home jabs and rights to the head. Joensuu was too slow and had no power so was never really in the fight. In the fifth Jassmann had Joensuu on the ropes and after landing a series of head punches he connected with a left to the body that dropped Joensuu to his knees. The Finn made it to his feet but another left to the body saw him turn away badly hurt and the referee halted the fight. Jassmann, 31, makes it 15 wins by KO/TKO and retains the German International title but his opposition has been strictly low grade. His father Reinhard was a good level amateur and uncle Manfredo a Germany light heavy and heavy champion who fought for the European title at light heavy, cruiser and heavyweight titles but I can’t see Mario going that far. Fifth defeat by KO/TKO for Joensuu and fifth loss in his last six fights.Mezencev vs. HrebikNo surprise here as German-based Kazak goes to 17 wins by KO/TKO with stoppage of poor Hrebik in some abysmal matchmaking. The 23-year-old Mezencev has fed on some very substandard opposition. The only decent fighter he has faced is unbeaten Tom Schwarz who kayoed him in seven round s. He is young so could improve. Tenth inside the distance loss for Czech Hrebik.Belfast, Northern Ireland: James Tennyson (23-3) W TKO 2 Garry Neale (10-1). Light: Feargal McCrory (10-0) W TKO 9 Karl Kelley (2-3). Light: Paul Hyland Jr (20-1) W PTS 8 Miroslav Serban (10-2). Cruiser: Tommy McCarthy (13-1) W PTS 8 Jiri Svacina (13-33). Tennyson vs. NealeTennyson much too big a step up for Neale. Tennyson had his jab working well in the first and was already connecting with body punches. Southpaw Neale was forced onto the back foot but tried to counter when he saw an opening. In the second Tennyson again took the fight to Neale and put him down with rights to the head. Neale arose and tried to fight back but was down again under a series of punches and was counted out. The 25-year-old “Assassin from Belfast goes to 19 wins by KO/TKO . This is his first fight since a fifth round stoppage loss against Tevin Farmer for the IBF super feather title in October. None of Neale’s victims had a positive record so this was a too ambitious fight for him.McCrory vs. KelleyMcCrory gets late win against Kelly in a hard-fought contests. Southpaw McCrory made a good start behind his jab and staggered the aggressive Kelly with a left in the opening round. Kelly was walking through McCrory’s punches over the next two rounds but a clash of heads saw both fighters cut over the left eye. His better boxing saw McCrory winning the rounds and Kelly was a wide open target as he marched forward. Pressure from Kelly increased and more and more McCrory was being forced to fight inside as Kelly began to eat into McCrory’s lead. The eighth was close but McCrory broke through in a big way in the ninth. He trapped Kelly in a corner and blasted away until with Kelly not firing back the referee stepped in and stopped the fight. McCrory wins the vacant Boxing Union of Ireland title. Dubliner Kelly had earlier lost in a fight for the BUI super light title. Hyland vs. SerbanHyland given a tough night and a scare by inexperienced Serban. Hyland boxed well over the first four rounds. Serban was pressing hard and looked dangerous at times but Hyland was slotting home jabs and landing with power shots to the body. Both Hyland and the crowd were shocked in the fifth when a head punch from Serban put Hyland down. He made it to the vertical but was unsteady. Serban’s inexperience saw him throw away his chance of victory as he launched wild punches trying to nail Hyland again and the local fighter survived. Hyland was staggered again by left hook in the sixth but boxed his way through the seventh and eighth to take the decision. Referee’s score 78-74 for Hyland. Second win for Hyland as he rebuilds after losing inside a round to Lewis Ritson for the British title in June last year. Czech champion “Lumberjack” Serban had won his last six fights. This was his first outing since December 2017 but by flooring Hyland he might have earned himself some more paydays.McCarthy vs. SvacinaMcCarthy takes every round against survivor Svacina. McCarthy fed Svacina a steady diet of punishment but the ancient Czech just soaked it up. McCrory scored heavily in the fifth and sixth but Svacina refused to cave in and McCarthy had to settle for a points win. Referee’s score 80-72 for McCarthy whose only loss is a points decision against then British champion Matty Askin in 2016. This is win No 4 since then. The 41-year-old Svacina has only lost eight times by KO/TKO in his 47 fights.Buenos Aires, Argentina: Cruiser: Marcos Aumada (21-6) W TKO 4 Carlos Nascimento (16-7).Aumada has no trouble holding on to his WBC Latino title against poor Brazilian Nascimento. Aumada was able to walk past the jabs of the 6’4” Nascimento and score with hooks and uppercuts. A fearsome southpaw left uppercut put Nascimento down in the first and he showed guts to get up and survive. Aumada continued to punish the Brazilian in the second and third. In the fourth Aumada used a series of straight lefts to force Nascimento to the ropes and the landed a another left that staggered Nascimento and the referee had seen enough and stepped in. Aumada, 32, the Argentinian No 1 has 16 wins by KO/TKO . Sixth inside the distance defeat for Nascimento.Halifax, Canada: Super Bantam: Tyson Cave (33-4) W PTS 12 Humberto de Santiago (16-6-1).Local fighter Tyson wins unanimous verdict over de Santiago in IBA title fight. The 37-year-old southpaw handled de Santiago well but was hampered late in the fight by a calf injury that limited his mobility. Scores 120-107, 117-110 and 116-111 for Cave. The Halifax fighter lost to Oscar Escandon for the interim WBA super bantam title in 2014. He has now won nine in a row but against modest level opposition. Mexican de Santiago was having his first fight since December 2017.Peterborough, Canada: Super Welter: Cody Crowley (17-0) W PTS 12 Stuart McClellan (25-3-3,1ND). Super Light: Steven Wilcox (20-3-1) W PTS 8 Javier Mercado (25-14-2).Crowley vs. McClellanThis looked a very even match on paper but in the event local southpaw Crowley outclassed the more experienced former champion and retained the Canadian title. Crowley was quicker, busier,punched harder and floored McClellan on the way to a wide unanimous decision. McClellan did well to stick in there to the final bell. Scores 120-107 for Crowley from the three judges. The 25-year-old Crowley, a bronze medal winner at the Commonwealth Youth Games, is ready to step up to tougher competition. McClellan, 32, was 13-0,1ND in his last 14 fights.Wilcox vs. MercadoA breeze turned into a tornado for Wilcox as he only just survives a late surge by Mercado. Wilcox outboxed the limited Mexican and was coasting to victory with a good lead strengthen by Mercado losing a point for a low punch. It was near disaster for Wilcox in the seventh. A big punch from Mercado dropped Wilcox and he was in serious trouble. He was floored for a second time and there could haven been a third knockdown as a punch buckled his knees and his glove brushed the canvas but it was not spotted by the referee. Wilcox survived the round and despite being staggered again he fought hard in the eighth and took the decision. Scores 77-73 twice and 76-74 for Wilcox. Now 5 wins in his last 6 fights for the Canadian No 3. Mercado has now won only two of his last seven fights but with 22 of his 25 wins coming inside the distance he had a punchers chance and nearly brought it off.Nadi, Fiji: Joseph Kwadjo (24-11,2ND) ND 6 Savenaca Naliva (9-2-1,1ND).A wild and wet night in Fiji as the fight between Kwadjo and Naliva was halted twice before being abandoned. The first stoppage came in the second round when a brawl broke out between the rival fans and the police had to intervene to quell the trouble. The fight restarted but rain had made the canvas slippery and even after both fighters shed their footwear they still had problems keeping their balance with Kwadjo sliding to the floor six times and the fight was abandoned. Kwadjo is a Ghanaian who now lives in Fiji and he and local fighter Naliva will have to meet again as this was for the Fijian title and that remains vacant.Estosadok, Russia: Light Pavel Malikov (14-1-1) DREW 10 Vage Sarukhanyan (19-2-2). Super Welter: Olek Ivanov (17-4) W PTS 10 Konstantin Ponomarev (34-2). Light: Denis Shafikov (40-4-2 )DRE W 10 Gaybatulla Gadzhialiev (6-0-1). Super Welter: Alex Sharonov (12-3-2) W PTS 8 Akhmed Khapachev (3-2-1).Malikov vs. SarukhanyanMalikov and Sarukhanyan draw in a close fight that saw both fighters on the floor. Malikov was the aggressor and the busier fighter early with Sarukhanyan showing some nice skills but just not working hard enough over the first three rounds. Sarukhanyan eventually began to pick up rounds but was floored in the eighth. He took the ninth and put Malikov down in the tenth to even things up. Scores 96-92 Malikov, 96-92 Sarukhanyan and 94-94.This was a quarter-final of a tournament so there had to be a winner and a fourth judge had Malikov 95-93 in front so he goes through to the lightweight semi-finals. Reportedly the 32-year-old Russian Malikov was defending the oddly named Eurasian Parliament title. Armenian Sarukhanyan, 28, is now 11-1-1 in his last 13 fights.Ivanov vs. PonomarevIvanov pushes the once promising Ponomarev a little further down the slope with a wide unanimous decision. Ponomarev did plenty of attacking but with a very leaky defence and Ivanov’s jab was the dominant punch in the fight. Ponomarev was bereft of any idea on how to turn things around and seems only half the fighter he was when campaigning in the USA and earning a world rating. Scores 100-90, 98-92 and 97-93 for Ivanov. Ukrainian-based Russian Ivanov makes it 7 wins in his last 8 fights and he also goes through to the semi-finals at super welter. Ponomarev looked a top prospect when he was beating Mikael Zewski and Brad Solomon but after 34 wins in a row he lost a split decision to unbeaten newcomer Sergey Vorobiev for the vacant Russian title in July last year. Gadzhialiev vs. ShafikovDisappointing performance from Shafikov. The former three-time challenger for the IBF title made a slow start and Gadzhialiev used speed and skill to work on the outside countering Shafikov’s usual forward march. Gadzhialiev built a good lead in the early rounds but Shafikov kept coming and looked to have edged in front only for Gadzhialiev to find another gear late. The judges scored this 96-96, 95-95 and 97-94 for Gadzhialiev. Again a result was needed and it was decided that whichever fighter the judges scored the last round for would go through to the semi-finals and that was Gadzhialiev. Although he has had only seven pro fights Gadzhialiev (Hajialiyev) was a high level amateur being Azeri national champion, winning a bronze medal at the European Championships and competing at the 2011 and 2013 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics. He also fought for the Azerbaijan Baku Fires team in the World Series of Boxing. It remains to be seen how badly this draw affects Shafikov’s chances of getting a fourth world title fight but it must be a heavy blow to them.Sharonov vs. KhapachevSharonov goes through to the semi-finals with Gadzhialiev as he gets majority decision over Khapachev. The fighters in this one were a class or two behind Gadzhialiev and Shafikov but their contrasting styles produced a competitive and close fight. Scores 77-76 and 77-75 for Sharonov and 76-76. Four wins in a row for Sharonov. Southpaw Khapachev was in his first eight round fight.Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: Light: Prince Lee Isidore (17-3-1) W PTS 10 Antoni Armas (9-4).Local fighter Isidore overcomes a slow start to outpoint Venezuelan Armas. In his first fight since December 2017 Isidore took a few rounds to get into his stride and Armas connected with some heavy body punches in the second. The visitor looked to have edged the first three rounds. From the fourth Isidore took control and outboxed Armas. The young Venezuelan had never gone past six rounds and he tired late in the fight allowing Isidore to put the verdict beyond doubt and Isidore took the unanimous decision. This marked the first time that the 33-year-old Isidore had had to go the distance for a win. He collects the vacant WBFoundation International title. Armas, 22, had won 4 of his last 5 fights.February 10Pretoria, South Africa: Heavy: Elvis Moyo (9-5-2) W PTS 10 Ruann Visser (14-1).If these two are amongst the best heavyweights in Africa then the Africa is in sore need of some new faces. This contest was fought at a pedestrian pace. The 6’9 ½” tall Visser towered over the 6’1” Moyo who just kept plodding forward. There was no power in Visser’s jab and he was sloppy with his right so Moyo was able to walk the big man down. Moyo would work Visser to the ropes and launch himself forward firing hooks past the porous guard of Visser. Visser was slightly more active than the 282 ¼ lbs Moyo and landed enough to win a round here and there but other than that it was Moyo who did most of what scoring there was and was a deserving winner. Scores98-95, 97-93 and 96-94 all for Zimbabwean Moyo. He has won his last six fights but against strictly low level opposition and at 6’1 and over 280lbs he makes Jarrell Miller look almost svelte. South African champion Visser had won his last nine fights but is going nowhere.Fight of the week (Significance): Gervonta Davis has opened some exciting possibilities at super featherFight of the week (Entertainment): Ray Beltran vs. Hiroki Okada had plenty of action on show and the Jose Carlos Ramirez vs. Jose Zepeda fight was in the balance all the way.Fighter of the week: Gervonta Davis for his obliteration of Hugo RuizPunch of the week: So many to choose from. The left hook from Victor Ruiz that flattened unbeaten Christian Carto. A left hook from Reymart Gaballo that obliterated Yuya Nakamuraand on the same show the overhand right that Romero Duno used to put away Kuldeep Dhanda also the lightning uppercut from Marcos Aumada that wiped out Carlos Nascimento all great punches but I go for the left hook from Cristian Coria that laid out favoured Joel Diaz.Upset of the week: Ruiz vs. Carto, CancioCoria vs. DiazProspect watch: I will go with 24-year-old Tim Tszyu who is 12-0 with 10 wins by KO/TKO-it’s in the blood.]]>Mon, 11 Feb 2019 16:07:31 GMThttp://www.asianboxing.info/features/a-look-at-the-japanese-amateur-scene​By Marcus Bellinger (@marcusknockout)

Japanese professional boxing is in a great place right now when some truly elite fighters and a plethora of outstanding youngsters racing through the ranks at a lightning pace. The country is hosting the 2020 Olympics but boxing’s place is yet to be confirmed due to a dispute between governing body AIBA and the IOC.Japan has never been a traditional powerhouse in amateur boxing but has had plenty of success at the youth and junior levels. Here are a small selection of boxers from the land of the rising sun who could either feature in Tokyo, or more likely in the professional ranks in the years to come.Hayato Tsutsumi, bantamweight, (56kg).The next potential superstar from Japan, Tsutsumi ruled the roost at the youth level and has made a solid start in the elite level. He’s had plenty of success domestically winning various tournaments. 2016 was a banner year as Tsutsumi claimed flyweight golds at the Asian and World Youth Championships before repeating the success up at bantamweight at the 2017 Asian Youth Championships.His move to the senior ranks saw him win the national title in 2017 and reach the last 4in 2018 but elimination in the first contest of the 2018 Asian Games will have been a disappointment but should be seen as a valuable learning experience. If boxing doesn’t take place in Tokyo, expect promoters to be queueing round the block to sign up Tsutsumi. You can view the final of the 2017 national Championships involving Tsutsumi below.

​(Ed's note - The fight below is against highly regarded Teiken prospect Mikito Nakano, now 2-0 (2) in the professional ranks)

Sora Tanaka, light welterweight, (64kg).​Blessed with an exciting style and punching power, Tanaka won gold at the Asian Junior Championships in 2017. After winning Bronze at the 2018 Asian Youth Championships, Tanaka didn’t fare as well at the world Youth’s, going out in his first bout. An excellent performer at home, the teenager is definitely one for the future whether that’s as an amateur or a professional. Tanaka’s bout from the 2018 World Youth Championships can be seen below

Ryutaro Nakagaki, flyweight, (52kg).Nakagaki’s first success away from home came in 2015 when he topped the podium at the Asian Junior Championships. His best result to date saw him take Asian Youth gold in 2017 as he prevailed over top notch Uzbek Abdumalik Khalokov in the final. Nakagaki’s 2 outings at the Japanese nationals saw him reach the last 4 in 2017 and the last 8 in 2018 and there is plenty to build on for the gifted youngster.You can take a look at a bout from 2015 involving Nakagaki below.

Sho Usami, welterweight, (69kg).2018 saw Usami reach the quarter-finals of the Asian Youth Championships before going one better at the World Youth Championships in Hungary, coming away with a credible Bronze medal. A shot at the national crown last year saw him lose in his opening bout but again he should only improve given the right coaching and appearances at international tournaments. You can watch Usami’s semi-final contest at the World Youth Championships below

Finally it’s not just Hayato who has the boxing bug in the family as younger brothers Ryonosuke and Reito Tsutsumi have shown plenty of promise. Ryonosuke reached the last 8 at the 2018 World Youth Championships after grabbing Bronze at the Asian Youth Championships, losing out on both occasions to the outstanding Atichai Phoemsap. Reito’s most notable triumph so far saw him earn lightweight gold at the 2017 Asian Junior Championships. Footage of both Tsutsumi’s in action can be viewed below.